[Objective] The water-holding efficiency of different vegetation litter was studied in order to provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration and soil erosion control in loess hilly region.[Methods] The hydrological effect of the litter layers of four typical shrub woodlands (Caragana korshinskii, Hippophae rhamnoides, Sophora viciifolia and Periploca sepium) were studied, using indoor immersion method.[Results] ① The stock of the litter surface in Hippophae rhamnoides was the largest(1.048 kg/m²). The amount of litter in the soil of Caragana korshinskii was the largest(0.769 kg/m²). In addition, the litter in the soil accounted for 20.15%~55.92% of the total accumulated amount of litter, and the litter in the soil of Caragana korshinskii and Sophora viciifolia was higher than that of the surface litter. ② The water-holding capacity of litter on the surface and the litter in the soil showed a very significant logarithmic function with the immersion time(R² ≥ 0.745, p<0.01). The water-holding capacity of surface litter could reach 40% of the maximum water holding capacity in 5 min, and there was a significant power function relationship with the maximum water holding capacity(R²=0.38, p<0.01), that was to say, the maximum water-holding capacity of the surface litter could be fitted by the water holding capacity of 5 min, but this rule was not found for the litter in the soil. The water-holding capacity of the litter in the soil was significantly higher than the surface. The surface litter of the Periploca sepium had the highest effective water-holding capacity(2.13 g/g). What's more, the litter in the soil of Caragana korshinskii had the highest effective water-holding capacity(1.90 g/g). ③ The surface litter of Hippophae rhamnoides had the largest effective retaining content of 21.16 t/hm². The litter in the soil of Caragana korshinskii had the highest effective retaining capacity(10.01 t/hm²). The correction coefficient of litter retaining content in soil varied from 0.18 to 0.42.[Conclution] The litter in soil could not be ignored, the mixed amount of litter accounted for more than 1/5 or even 2/3 of the total volume of litter. The total effective water-holding capacity of Caragana korshinskii was the largest, while under the influence of litter type and accumulation amount, the total holding capacity of Hippophae rhamnoides was the largest, with strong water conservation and soil and water conservation functions.