Subpicosecond wavelength-degenerate differential transmission optical spectroscopy was used to characterize the electron capture time in a 10-period InxGa1-xN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structure. Photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectroscopies demonstrated enhanced MQW emission for injection within ±50 meV of the barrier energy. Time-resolved differential transmission measurements for excitation in this region reveal efficient electron capture in the quantum wells with a time constant between 310 and 540 fs. A slower exponential relaxation, with strongly wavelength-dependent subnanosecond decay constants, is also observed. © 2000 American Institute of Physics.