Study on Water Conservation Capacity of Litter from Different Types of Forest in Caohai Basin.

[Objective] The research aimed to understand water conservation capacity of litter from different forest types in Caohai basin. [Method] Current storage amount, water holding capacity and precipitation interception ability of litter from 4 types of forest were investigated and studied. [Result] The order of exist litter amount was grass slope > shrub forest > mixed broad leaf conifer forest > coniferous forest. The order of natural water holding capacity was mixed broad leaf conifer forest > coniferous forest > grass slope > shrub forest. The relevance between water holding capacity of litter and soaking time was in line with this formula: y=Mn(x) +b. During 0-120 mm of litter soaking, water holding capacity increased rapidly. After 120 mm, the increasing trend remained flat until closing to the maximum water holding capacity. The relevance between water absorption rate of litter and soaking time was in line with this formula: y=a +bx^-1. In the beginning of soaking, water absorption rates of litter from different woodlands showed great difference. As soaking time went by, water absorption rates of litter from different woodlands all declined sharply. During 0-120 mm, declining velocity of water absorption rate was quicker. After 120 mm, the declining trend tended to be slow. The maximum water holding capacity of litter presented the order of shrub forest > mixed broad leaf conifer forest > grass slope > coniferous forest. The maximum precipitation interception amount of litter presented the order of shrub forest > grass slope > mixed broad leaf conifer forest > coniferous forest. Effective impounding capacity of litter presented the order of shrub forest> mixed broad leaf conifer forest > grass slope > coniferous forest. [Conclusion] The research could provide support for the construction of water conservation forest in Caohai basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]