Rainfall is the main limiting factor affecting vegetation growth on the Loess Plateau, but its effects on litter and soil nutrients are uncertain due to different vegetation community structures. This paper selected four typical vegetation types on the Loess Plateau as the research objects, including artificial Pinus tabulaeformis forest, artificial Robinia pseudoacacia forest, Pinus tabulaeformis × Robinia pseudoacacia mixed forest, Poplar Populus × Quercus liaotungensis natural secondary forest. We studied the redistribution characteristics of forest canopy to rainfall, litter storage and soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen(STN), total phosphorus(STP) concentrations changed with forest type, and analyzed the effects of different rainfall distribution characteristics on litter and soil nutrients. The results showed that: (1) There were some differences in the characteristics of rainfall redistribution among the four stand types. The cumulative throughfall rates of Pinus tabulaeformis forest, Robinia pseudoacacia forest, Pinus tabulaeformis × Robinia pseudoacacia mixed forest and natural secondary forest were 86.43%, 85.37%, 71.68%, and 64.77%, respectively; the stemflow rates were 1.0%, 1.6%, 1.3%, and 3.2%, respectively. In addition, the interception rates were 12.48%, 13.01%, 27.00%, and 31.93%, respectively. (2) The concentrations of SOC, STN, STP, and litter nutrient release rate of different stand types showed significant differences. Nutrient concentrations of natural secondary forest was higher than that of the artificial forest. (3) Among the four stand types, The ratio of soil C : N in Robinia pseudoacacia forest was the lowest, and the ratio of soil C : N in other three stands was not significantly different. The ratios of soil N : P and C : P in the natural secondary forest were the highest, and the ratio of soil N : P in Pinus tabulaeformis forest and Robinia pseudoacacia forest was not significantly different. (4) The changes of throughfall and interception could affect the N and P components of soil and the release rates of C, N and P elements of litter, but had little effect on the C components of soil. In conclusion, in the process of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, rainfall can increase the soil nutrient concentrations and promote the nutrient return of litter. The natural secondary forest has greater potential to change the characteristics of rainfall distribution and soil nutrients, and natural restoration is more conducive to soil nutrient accumulation.