Hydrological functions of main planted forest litters were assessed by measuring and analyzing the litter amount,the water holding capacity,and the processes with methods of field survey and soaking extra tion experiment in the loess hilly region of Western Shanxi Province.The relationship between water-holding capacity of litter,water absorption rate and soaking time was established.The results showed that the litter amount ranged from 6.81 to 56.64 t/hm²,with a decrease order of Larix gmelini Rupr. X Betula platyphylla Suk.forest,followed by Larix gmelinii Rupr.forest,Platycladus orientalis(I,inn.)Franco forest,Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.X black locust forest,Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. forest,Betula platyphylla Suk.forest,Caragana korshinskii Kom.forest,black locust forest.The maximum water-holding volume of different forests litters ranged from 10.08 to 100.78 t/hm²,the maximum water holding rate ranged from 146.54%to 203.74%,and the mixed interception amount and the effective interception amount showed similar trends with values from 9.41 to 88.65 t/hm²,and 7.90 to 73.53 t/hm².Soaking experiments showed that the water-holding volume increased logarithmically with soaking time,while the water-absorption rate showed an inverse function with soaking time.And the water-holding volume increased sharply during the first 0.5 h,then slowly increased,when soaking 12 h,basically reached the maximum water holding volume,and water holding capacity tends dynamic equilibrium.Comprehensively speaking,the litter water holding characteristics of Larix gmelinii Rupr. X Betula platphylla eight kinds of plantation forest,and black locust forest platyphylla Suk. mixed forest was the host one of was the worst one.