Through the experiment of Leucaena leucocephal forest litter water-holding characteristics in Jinsha river hot and dry valley

the litter water retaining capacity was studied . The results showed that the annual litter fall was 7.03 t/hm^2 and the monthly average of litter fall was 0. 59 t/hm^2

the litter thickness was 2.1-4.5 cm. The maximum of monthly litter fall occurred in December. The monthly mean of water content was 25. 27%

the maximum of monthly occurred in August

water content and amount of precipitation in this area varied in the same pattern

but it expressed lag effect. Speed of water content rapidly increased within 0. 5 hour

it reached the maximum of water-holding capacity after 4- 8 hours. The water-holding capacity equal to 1.2 mm precipitation within 0. 5 hour

the forest region will not occurred surface runoff if the amount of precipitation under 11.72 mm. Saturation content rate of litter varied from 66.94%-182.86%

the maximum of water-holding content was over two times than itself weight. The relation of water content and saturation content rate varied in the same pattern in the dry season

but it was not obvious in the rainy season.