In order to explore the litter characteristics of different vegetation types in the engineering accumulation, the water holding capacity and retention capacity of the engineering accumulation vegetation, litter of the native vegetation and 0—20 cm soil layer were studied by indoor immersion method and cutting ring method respectively. The results showed that: (1) There were significant differences in litter’sthickness and volume among different vegetation types (P<0.05). The litter’sthickness of primary arbor forests, arbor forests, shrub forests, and grassland were 3.76, 2.89, 2.67, 1.23 cm, and the litter’s volume amount were 5.95, 3.86, 3.19, 0.65 t/hm². The thickness and volume of the undecomposed layer were larger than that of semi-decomposed layer. (2) The soil bulk density and capillary porosity of different vegetation types ranged from 1.19 g/cm³ to 1.25 g/cm³ and 41.58% to 46.13% respectively. The soil bulk density of the primary arbor forests was lower than that of arbor forests, while the soil capillary porosity was higher than that of arbor forests. The order of soil capillary porosity of different vegetation types in the accumulation body was grassland, shrubs forests, and arbor forests. (3) The maximum soil water holding capacity and capillary water holding capacity of different vegetation types were significant different (P<0.05). The maximum soil water holding capacity and capillary water holding capacity ranged from 44.31 to 46.23 and 34.07 to 37.98 g/cm³, and the primary arbor forest was the highest and the arbor forest was the lowest. (4) The water holding capacity of litter showed logarithmic relationship with time. The water absorption rate was the highest at 0.5 h, and decreased at 4.0 h. The maximum water holding capacity reached saturation at 12 h, and the water absorption rate was close to 0. (5) The maximum water holding rate and effective interception rate of the primary arbor forests litter were higher than those of the arbor forests. The maximum water holding rate and effective interception rate of each vegetation type of the engineering accumulation body were grassland>shrub forests>arbor forests. From the perspective of litter and soil water holding capacity, the combination made of grass and shrub can be used as a pioneer vegetation for the construction of stable community ecological structure at the initial stage of the accumulation. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the soil and water conservation measures and vegetation restoration.