[Objective] To investigate the litters and soil water-holding in apple tree plantation in the Loess Plateau of east Gansu Province, in order to provide scientific basis for economic forest management and ecological benefit evaluation.[Methods] Taking the stand age of 1, 3, 7, 13 and 29-year old apple tree plantation as the research object, we collected soil samples and used indoor immersion method and cutting ring knife method to analyze the hydrological properties of litters and soil at 0-80 cm depth.[Results] ① The litters layer volume, maximum water holding capacity and effective interception volume of 7-year apple forest land were significantly higher than that of 1, 3, 13 and 29-year apple forest land. ② The maximum water holding capacity of litter was 5.02~20.66 t/hm² and had a logarithmic correlation with immersion time (R>0.90). The maximum water holding rate of litter was 120.46%~352.53% and had a power function relation with water immersion time (R>0.64). ③ Soil bulk density changed little with the increasing stand age, and the change range was 1.173~1.372 g/cm³. In contrast, the total porosity, capillary porosity and maximum water increased initially and then decreased, the range was 52.46%~57.06%, 46.34%~51.87% and 1 049.15~1 141.26 t/hm², respectively. Non-capillary porosity and effective water showed an overall increasing trend. ④ The initial infiltration rate and average permeation rate of 3-year old apple plantation were higher than those of other forest ages, which was 3 a > 1 a > 29 a > 7 a > 13 a. Therefore, the permeability of apple forest land aged 3 years was higher than other forest lands during the entire penetration time.[Conclusion] Apple economic forest can significantly improve the water conservation and soil and water conservation functions, but the hydrological effects of litters and soil are not synchronized, and with the increase of stand age, there will be a trend of functional decline.