This study investigated the hydrological properties of litter in different vegetation cover types, including Eucalyptus sp. plantation, Agroforestry, and Restoration Forest. The research focused on evaluating litter accumulation, composition, water holding capacity, and effective water retention. The results revealed variations in litter accumulation among the stands, and especially Eucalyptus sp., which had a higher proportion of branches compared to leaves. The water holding capacity of the litter differed among the stands. Agroforest and Restoration Forest showed higher litter water capacities than Eucalyptus sp. The composition and decomposition stage of the litter fractions influenced their water retention capabilities, with leaves exhibiting superior water retention. In contrast, branches had lower water absorption due to their hydrophobic nature. Despite these differences, the effective water retention, which indicates the ability of litter to intercept precipitation, was similar among the stands. The findings highlight the importance of considering litter composition and species-specific characteristics in understanding the hydrological functions of litter. This knowledge contributes to effective conservation and management strategies for sustainable land use practices and water resource management. Further research is recommended to expand the study’s scope to include a wider range of forest types and natural field conditions, providing a more comprehensive understanding of litter hydrological functions and their implications for ecosystem processes.

Urban trees play a pivotal role in mediating the hydrological and nutrient cycles within urban ecosystems, yet the mechanisms by which bark characteristics influence these processes remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the bark morphology—specifically texture, depth, and number of furrows—on the water absorption capacity and to determine the relationship between this capacity and ion concentration in stemflow across various urban tree species. Our findings reveal significant variations in water absorption and ion concentration related to the morphological traits of bark among tree species, highlighting the intricate relationship between bark physical and chemical characteristics and stemflow nutrient composition. Notably, species with furrowed textures, greater depth, and a higher number of furrows demonstrated pronounced differences in ion enrichment in their stemflow. However, a canonical redundancy analysis suggested a low association between bark absorption capacity and ion concentration, indicating the influence of other, possibly external, environmental factors on ion leaching. The results underscore the complexity of nutrient transport mechanisms in urban trees and show a new understanding of tree bark’s ecohydrological roles. This study contributes valuable insights into ecohydrology science and emphasizes the need for further research to unravel the multifaceted influences on nutrient dynamics in urban landscapes.