To investigate the hydrological function of different afforestation tree species in the feldspathic sandstone region, we selected Pinus tabuliformis, Platycladus orientalis, Populus cathayana, Prunus armeniaca, Hippophae rhamnoides and Caragana korshinskii from the area to analyze and compare the water-holding capacity in the litter layer and soil layer of different tree species by the soaking method and ring sampling method. Our results demonstrated that the litter accumulation variation range of the major afforestation tree species in the feldspathic sandstone region was 1.55-7.89 t/hm2, and Populus cathayana forest litter exhibited the highest maximum water holding capacity, i.e. 281.26%, followed by Pinus tabuliformis (217.14%), Platycladus orientalis (201.05%), Prunus armeniaca (202.79%), Hippophae rhamnoides (170.96%), Caragana korshinskii (158.08%), and abandoned land (143.88%). For the soil layer under the Pinus tabuliformis forest, the smallest bulk density was 1.46 g/cm3, the maximum porosity and capillary porosity was 43.55% and 36.99%, respectively, with the maximum capillary moisture capacity being 14.50 mm. For the soil under Prunus armeniaca forest, the maximum non-capillary porosity was 13.12%, and the maximum non-capillary moisture capacity was 6.86 mm. The water-holding capacity of both the litter layer of Pinus tabuliformis and the under-forest soil layer was great. Therefore, Pinus tabuliformis is more suitable for vegetation construction in the feldspathic sandstone region.