Soil management may positively influence water retention in surface soil layers while hindering undesirable processes such as run-off. The longer water is retained in surface soil the greater the likelihood that water will be utilized by plants or lost to evaporation. Soil structural properties are strongly influenced by soil management and resulting differences in soil water retention and infiltration characteristics can be significant. The use of poultry litter and other animal wastes as an alternative crop nutritional amendment is common. Past studies suggest that such soil amendments also positively impact structure. The objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of poultry litter applications to water retention and infiltration in a no-till soil. The experiment was conducted on a no-till Maury silt loam soil under a corn-soybean rotation. Treatments consisted of a control (no application), litter applied each year in the spring, litter applied in spring of corn years, litter applied in spring and fall of corn years, and litter applied every spring and fall. Volumetric soil water content (0 to 20 cm depth) was measured every other day throughout the growing season using time domain reflectometry (TDR). A broad range of water potentials were derived for soil water retention curves using dew-point water activity meters. Litter amendment positively influenced the water holding capacity. Water contents were not very different during dry periods, but large differences were apparent during wetter periods and especially after rainfall events. During drying periods, litter amended surface soils reached the permanent wilting point later than non-amended controls. Soil water retention curves also displayed differences. Litter amendment resulted in greater water retention in the wetter end of the range, where soil structure dominates soil water retention characteristics.