[Background] The purpose of the study is to understand the situation of water conservation of forest resources in Fengning County of Hebei Province. [Methods] We studied the water conservation ability of 4 different types of forest land for water source by collecting soil and litter samples and comparing the difference of litter amount determination, the litter water-holding capacity, water determination process and soil moisture and physical properties. [Results] The forest litter water-holding capacities of 4 types of forest land for water source followed the order: Populus simonii forest land > Larix gmelinii *Armeniaca sibirica forest land > Pinus tabuliformis *A. sibirica forest land > P. tabuliformis forest land, and the maximum water-holding capacity of P. simonii forest land and the ffective water-holding one were 29.79 and 4.01 t/ hm² respectively. In terms of water-holding capacity in soil porosity, total porosity followed the order: P. simonii forest land > grassland > cultivated land > L. gmelinii *A. sibirica forest land > P. tabuliformis *A. sibirica forest land > P. tabuliformis forest land, and the value ranged in 43.49%—34.96%. Regarding soil bulk density, there was an order: grassland > P. tabuliformis forest land > cultivated land > P. simonii forest land > P. tabuliformis * A. sibirica forest land > L. gmelinii *A. sibirica forest land. Considering the soil water constant within 0 -30 cm soil layer, the maximum soil water constant of L. gmelinii *A. sibirica forest land, P. tabuliformis *A. sibirica forest land, and P. tabuliformis forest land existed within 10 -20 cm soil layer. The maximum soil water constant of P. simonii forest land existed within 20 - 30 cm soil layer. The maximum soil water constant of grassland and cultivated land existed within 0 to 10 cm soil layer. [Conclusions] According to the above analysis, the difference of water conservation capacity in different water source forest is obvious. Under the condition of the same site, broadleaf conifer mixed forest has better water conservation function; in order to fully explore the water conservation function of the water source forest in the north of Hebei Province, we should strengthen the management and protection of the existing water source forest, and construct a more reasonable water source forest.