[Ecohydrological functions of litter in three main plant communities on Songnen grassland]

With the litter layers of Leymus chinensis, Chloria virgata and Puccinellia tenuiflora communities on Songnen grassland as test objects, this paper studied their litter storage, water holding capacity, rainfall interception, and restraining effect on soil evaporation. The results showed that in the litter layers of L. chinensis, C. virgata and P. tenuiflora communities, the litter storage was 4.7, 3.0 and 2.6 t x hm(-2), maximum water holding capacity was 9.6, 7.4 and 5.0 t x hm(-2), maximum water holding rate was 208.4%, 262.8% and 202.2%, rainfall interception was 6.57, 5.79 and 5.26 t x hm(-2), and interception rate was 6.22%, 5.52% and 5.23%, respectively. The interception capacity was increased, while the interception rate was decreased with increasing rainfall. Under the cover of litter with a thickness of 0.5-2 cm, soil evaporation was decreased by 7.95%-56.79%, compared with that without litter cover. The restraining effect on soil evaporation increased with increasing litter thickness and soil water content.