Pinus koraiensis,Larix keampfari,Quercus mongolica,polar-birch,Populus davidiana,weed trees,Shrubbery of Juglans mandshurica and the grass land in Great Liaohe River basin were investigated and studied to explore the hydrological characteristic of litter layer of water conservation forest and the relations between water-holding capacity,water absorption rate and soaking time of litters were established through field investigate and soak experiment.The results indicated that:(1)Among all the types of litters, the total thickness and existing litter amount of Quercus mongolica were the largest,4.83cm and 30.70t/hm² respectively,and the shrubbery was the least with 0.65cm and 3.32t/hm² respectively.(2)The maximum water holding capacity ranged from 3.97t/hm² to 36.02t/hm²,the mixed water retaining capacity from 3.34t/hm² to 34.06t/hm²,and the most effective water reaining capacity from 0.85t/hm² to 20.39t/hm² with the highest value in the Quercus mongolicaforest and the lowest in grassland.(3)Soak experiments demonstrated that water holding capacity and soaking time had remarkable logarithmic correlation, while the absorption rate and soaking time was of a power function.The dynamic changes of the water-holding capacity and the water-absorption rate were generally similar for litters of different forest types.