[Objective] To find out suitable soil water conservation measures in arid and degradation mountain regions in North China, in order to provide scientific basis for the development of efficient water-saving forest industry in the northern arid degraded mountainous areas.[Methods] Two years old "Lüling" grafted walnut seedlings were used as materials to study the effects of different combinations of aquasorb, straw and plastic film mulching on soil environment and growth of newly planted young walnut trees. Principal component analysis was used for the comprehensive evaluation of water conservation measures.[Results] Seventeen indices of physical and chemical properties of soil, soil microbial quantity and newly planted tree growth status were used to construct the screening model of water conservation measures on newly planted trees in gneiss mountains. Using the standardized data, four principal components were extracted from 17 indices, which can explain 93.453% of the comprehensive effect of water conservation measures.[Conclusion] The plastic film mulching is the best water conservation measure for newly planted tree in gneiss mountains.