［Objective］ The hydrological characteristics and nutrient return potential of litter in 20—30-year-old artificial forests on the Pingshuo open-pit coal mine wasteland， and their response to degradation dynamics were investigated， in order to provide a scientific basis for the ecological restoration of degraded artificial forests. ［Methods］ Taking the litterfall of different degraded Robinia pseudoacacia pure forest and R. pseudoacacia-Elmus pumila mixed forest in Pingshuo mining area as the research object， the stock， water-holding characteristics， nutrient content and return potential were studied. ［Results］ ① The litter accumulation in severely declined mixed forests was significantly higher by 49.4% compared to normal forests （p<0.05）. With an increasing degree of decline， the maximum water-holding capacity of litter generally increased in both forest types. The water absorption rate showed a rapid decrease in the early stage and a gradual change in the later stage. The maximum water holding capacity， maximum water holding rate， and water holding rate of litter in R. pseudoacacia-E. pumila mixed forests were higher than those in R. pseudoacacia forests. The carbon content of litter in R. pseudoacacia-E. pumila mixed forests was 2.11 times that in R. pseudoacacia forests. In severely degraded R. pseudoacacia forests， nitrogen and potassium contents significantly increased by 0.9% and 0.13%， respectively， compared with those in relatively intact forests （p<0.05）. In severely degraded R. pseudoacacia-E. pumila mixed forests， phosphorus and potassium contents significantly increased by 0.07% and 0.04%， respectively， compared with relatively intact forests （p<0.05）. There were significant differences in the potential return amounts of carbon， nitrogen， and potassium nutrients among the different forest types and degrees of decline （p<0.05）. ［Conclusion］ The decline in artificial forests in the mining area enhanced the water-holding capacity and nutrient return potential of the litter， which is beneficial for the improvement of degraded forest lands. R. pseudoacacia-Elm mixed forests exhibited relative advantages in these respects.