Water Conservation Services of Different Vegetation Types in the Saihan Ulla National Nature Reserve

We measured the physical properties of soil and litters and soil retention under seven main plant communities- Filifolium sibirica grassland,Betula platyphylla forest,Quercus mongolica forest,Larix pricepis-ruprechtii forest,Ostryopsis davidiana forest,Prunus sibirica forest,and farming in the Saihan Ulla National Nature Reserve to assess water conservation efficiency of these communities. Our results were summarized as follows: ① Soil physical properties were significantly different among the communities,and the water conserving capability of land with natural vegetation was higher than that with artificial vegetation. The average bulk density of topsoil( 0- 60 cm)was the highest in cropland but the lowest in Betula platyphylla forest. The maximum soil retention was the highest in Betula platyphylla forest but the lowest in Filifolium sibirica grassland. The non-capillary capacity of soil was also the highest in Betula platyphylla forest but the lowest in cropland; ② Water conservation potential of soil litters under plant communities growing on shady slope was higher than that on sunny slope. It was consistently the highest in Larix princepis-ruprechtii forest; ③ Water conservation efficiency of soil and litters was different among plant communities,and it was the highest in Betula platyphylla forest.