Water-Holding Characteristics of the Litter Layer of Six Sparse Plantation Types in the Loess Ridge Hilly Region of Ningxia

【Objective】Water-holding capacity of litter layer is an important part for hydrological effect evaluation of forest land. Quantitative evaluation of hydrological characteristics of litter layer of typical sparse plantations in Loess ridge hilly region can provide a theoretical basis for ecological reconstruction and structure optimization of forest and grass vegetation in the study area.【Method】Six kinds of artificial forests were selected, including pure forest of Armeniaca sibirica, Amygdalus davidiana, and Caragana intermedia, A.sibirica and Hippophae rhamnoides mixed forest, A. sibirica and C. intermedia mixed forest, and A. sibirica, A. davidiana and Medicago sativa mixed forest. A standard plot of 20 m×20 m was set up in each of artificial forests, and five subplots of 1 m×1 m were set up at the four corners and the center of the plot to collect litter samples. The field investigation and indoor soaking method were used to compare and analyze the stock volume, water-holding capacity and dynamic change p