[Objective] The influence of prescribed burning on accumulation and water holding capacity of litters in Pinus yunnanensis forest was investigated, in order to provide a scientific basis for predicting the environmental effects of prescribed fire.[Methodes] The litter accumulation amounts and hydrological characters were tested and compared between the unburned and burned forests by prescribed fire. Litter accumulation amounts were obtained by field positioning collector methods and the hydrological character was investigate indoor immersion method.[Results] ① The volume of combustion residue after prescribed fire sample plot was 3.84 t/hm², which was only 21% of the volume of litter in the unburned sample plot, and the volume of litter in the unburned sample plot was 18.64 t/hm². ② The maximum water-holding capacity of forest litters after prescribed fire was 14 t/hm², which was significantly lower than that in unburned forest with the total maximum water-holding capacity of 60.62 t/hm². The water-holding capacity of the litter layer and soaking time in both unburned and prescribed burned sample land showed a significantly logarithmic relationship, and the immersion time and the absorption rate of forest litters showed a significantly power function relationship with the immersion time. ③ The maximum amount of litter input was in April, accounting for 20%-24% of the annual increase. After 1 year, the effective water-holding capacity in the prescribed burnt land was restored to 73%.[Conclusion] After the prescribed fire, the litter storage and the waster holding capacity can decrease in short term. However, with the natural recovery, the water conservation of the litter of Pinus yunnanensis forest can gradually recover.