Ability of holding water and preventing erosion of different land use ways in Taihang mountain were studied through investigating the characters of vegetations and soils. The results showed that owing to better layers composition and more litters and roots

abilities of holding water and preventing erosion of Oriental oak forest

Black locust forest and coppice forest of Black locust are stronger than that of others. Abilities of holding water and preventing erosion three kinds of Chinese chestnut forests with single layer is poorer than that of other three kinds of forests because of its intense human kind disturbance. The abilities of holding water and preventing erosion of cropland discarded are stronger than cropland thanks to its higher coverage

more litters and roots. Cropland is the poorest in ability of holding water and preventing erosion because of its single layer composition

least litters and roots. In the area

the infiltration rate of the soils under most kinds of land use ways is high

owing to their high non-capillary porosity

and vegetation can enhance erosion resistance of soils.