[Objective] To study the hydrological effect of typical forest litter layer and soil layer on the upper Luanhe River

in order to provide theoretical basis for monitoring and evaluation of the forest. [Methods] The non-decomposed layer and semi-decomposed layer of three different types forest litter were investigated. [Results] (1) The litter accumulation amount

the maximum moisture capacity

and the effective retaining content of Pinus tabulaeformis forest were 12.03

19.4

and 23.52 t/hm2 respectively

those of larch forest were 9.51

11.9

and 17.03 t/hm2 respectively

and those of mixed forest of larch and birch were 5.54

13.0

and 13.7 t/hm2

respectively. (2) It nearly reached saturation in 8 h for semi-decomposed layer

while it needed 10 h for non-decomposed layer. The water absorption rate of litter reached maximum within 0.5 h

and it slowed down obviously at about 6 h. (3) The water holding capacity of soil layer for Larix gmelini and Betula platyphylla mixed forest was highest

which was 375.92 t/hm2

while it was lowest in soil layer of Pinus tabulaeformis forest

which was 248.04 t/hm2. Using the power function to fit the infiltration rate and infiltration time

the correlation coefficient R2 was more than 0.98. [Conclusion] The biomass

maximum water holding capacity

and the effective holding capacity are maximum in the litter layer of Pinus tabulaeformis forest

and the mixed forest of larch and birch have the highest soil water holding capacity.