Water-holding characteristics of coniferous forest litters in west Qinling Mountains.
秦岭西部山地针叶林凋落物持水特性

By the methods of field survey and soaking extraction, the storage, water-holding capacity, water-holding rate, and water-absorption rate of the litters in Larix principis-ruprechtii, Larix kaempferi, Picea asperate, and Picea abies plantations in west Qinling Mountains were studied. The results showed that the litter storage in the four similar aged coniferous forests decreased in the order of P. asperate (29.81 t·hm-2)> P. abies (26.17 t·hm-2)> L. kaempferi(13.30 t·hm-2)>L. ruprechtii (8.46 t·hm-2). The water-holding capacity and water-holding rate of the litters at different decomposition degree changed logarithmically with soaking time while the water-absorption rate assumed a power function, but all the test water-holding characteristics had less correlation with forest type and litter decomposition degree. Under the four coniferous forests, the litters in semi-decomposed layer had a stronger water-holding capability than those in decomposed layer, and the water-holding capability of the litters under larch forest was stronger than that under spruce forest.