Background Forest litter and soil have high water and soil conservation benefits, and the capacity of soil water retention is affected by its texture. There are various soil texture types in Jiangxi province, and clarifying the water conservation capacity of different forest types in different soil quality areas is the basis for solving the problem of planting suitable tree species on the ground.

Methods We set up a sample plot of 20 m×20 m, collected experimental samples based on the diagonal three-point method, and then used the indoor immersion method and the ring knife method to determine the samples of public welfare forests in three soil quality areas in Jiangxi province (the public welfare forests include Phyllostachys heterocycla forests, broadleaf mixed forest, Cunninghamia lanceolata pure forest, Pinus massoniana pure forest, Pinus elliottii pure forest, etc.).

Results : 1) The effective retention capacity of P. massoniana litter (3.73 t/hm²) was significantly higher than that of other forest types in coarse sandy soil areas. While, in silt and loamy areas, the P. elliottii litter layer (7.94, 5.78 t/hm²) had better water conservation benefits. 2) The means of the maximum soil water retention was 20.43, 8.04, 11.82 mm in the three soil types, but the differences among different forest stands in the same soil type area was not obvious. 3) The effective retention capacity of plantation forest litter (5.31 t/hm²) was significantly higher than that of natural secondary forest, but instead, the maximum storage capacity of average soil moisture (14.51 mm) was significantly lower.

Conclusions Comprehensive inference, the litter layer of P. massoniana, P. elliottii and plantation forest have higher hydrological effect; the soil hydrological effect of natural secondary forest is better. On soil sites with different texture types in Jiangxi province, proper planting of coniferous species can better exert the hydrological benefits of litter.