In the present study

the field investigation and indoor analysis were conducted to study the litter characteristics

soil physical features

soil infiltration characteristics and water retention capacities of different vegetation types in dump of opencast coal mine

and water retention capacities were evaluated by principal component analysis. The results indicated that the thickness and amount of litter were different significantly (P<0.05) among three vegetation types

and the litter thickness of arbor land

shrub land and weeds land were 1.80

1.23

and 0.83 cm

respectively

and the litter accumulation of three vegetation types were 6.76

2.96

and 0.58 t/hm2

respectively. The water retention capacity and interception capacity of litter in arbor land was the maximum

which was significantly greater than those in shrub land and weeds land (P<0.05). The soil bull density was in the order of weeds land > shrub land > arbor land. The soil infiltration capacity of arbor land and shrub land were significantly greater than that of weeds land

and the infiltration rate

the stable infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration of three vegetation types were 1.53 ～ 4.08 mm/min

0.20 ～ 1.51 mm/min

28 ～133 mL

respectively. The actual storage capacity of arbor land and shrub land were both greater than that of weeds land

and the water storage efficiency of arbor land and shrub land were significantly higher than that of weeds land (P<0.05). The water retention capacities of different vegetation types were evaluated by principal component analysis. Fifteen indicators were optimized into 3 principal components

with a cumulative contribution rate of 96.832%. The water retention capacities of different vegetation types were in the order of arbor land > shrub land > weeds land. To improve the water retention capacity of litter and soil of dump

arbor (Robinia pseudoacacia) could be selected as the main reclaimed vegetation.