Objective This study aims to reveal the differences in the water conservation function of leaf litter across different forest types and clarify its underlying patterns, thereby providing a scientific basis for the evaluation and management of forest ecological water conservation functions in national forest parks in subtropical regions. Methods The leaf litter from four typical forest types in Fuchunjiang National Forest Park was selected as the research object. The standing crop and water conservation capacity of the leaf litter were measured using the weighing method, indoor soaking method, and water loss test method. The differences in water conservation capacity among different forest types were analyzed, and the underlying patterns were revealed through fitting equations. Results (1) The standing crop of leaf litter ranged from 1.61 t/hm2 to 3.00 t/hm2, with the order from the highest to lowest being: Phoebe zhennan forest > Phyllostachys heterocycla forest > Cunninghamia lanceolata forest > Liriodendron chinense forest. The standing crop of semi-decomposed leaf litter was greater than that of undecomposed litter. (2) The water holding capacity and water loss of leaf litter in each forest type increased with time, while the water holding rate and water loss rate decreased with time. The relationships of water holding capacity, water loss, water holding rate, and water loss rate with time all conformed to the “Allometric” function, namely, Y = axb, with b > 0 for the former two and b < 0 for the latter two. (3) The Phyllostachys heterocycla forest exhibited good water holding capacity, with a total effective interception rate of 246.60%. It demonstrated a good interception function for short-duration, high-intensity precipitation, and could effectively delay the generation of surface runoff. In contrast, the Phoebe zhennan forest exhibited better water retention performance. After 192 hours of water loss, the water retention amount reached 0.63 t/hm2, which could help maintain soil water and conserve water sources in alpine gorge areas with high evaporation. (4) The water conservation function of leaf litter in the four forest types was jointly affected by forest type and decomposition degree, and semi-decomposed leaf litter played a key role in water conservation within the forest ecosystem. Conclusion The water conservation function of leaf litter across different forest types in Fuchunjiang National Forest Park exhibits significant differentiation. The water holding and water loss processes follow the “Allometric” function law and are intrinsically regulated by the degree of decomposition.
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