Abstract: The water-holding capacities of five forest litters are analysed by using quadrat survey method and drying and soaking. These forest litters include Pinus yunnanensis, artificial Eucalyptus forest, mingled forest Ⅰ(Pinus yunnanensis + Eucalyptus), mingled forest Ⅱ(Pinus yunnanensis+Pinus armandi+Cunninghamia lanceolata+Cyclobalanopsis glauca),and Pinus armandi in the catchment area of Beimiao Reservoir in Baoshan City. Results show that the storage capacity of these five forest litters are small, with the maximum reaching 7.27 t/hm², and the minimum 4.51 t/hm²; the average water-holding capacity of forest litter’s undecomposed layer and half-decomposed layer increase with soaking time (respectively 5.22 mm and 5.83 mm in 8 h and 5.69 mm and 6.26 mm in 24 h); while the water absorption rate reduce with soaking time (respectively 0.65 mm/h and 0.73 mm/h in 8h, and 0.24 mm/h and 0.26 mm/h in 24 h). All of these values of half-decomposed layer are larger than those of undecomposed layer. The water holding performance of Eucalyptus and mingled forestⅡare better than that of the others.

Key words: Beimiao reservoir, forest litters, maximum water-holding capacity, maximum interception capacity, effective interception capacity