Estimation and testing of linkages between forest structure and rainfall interception characteristics of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on China’s Loess Plateau

作     者：Changkun Ma Yi Luo Mingan Shao Xiaoxu Jia Changkun Ma;Yi Luo;Mingan Shao;Xiaoxu Jia

作者机构：State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid RegionXian University of TechnologyXianChina Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and ModelingInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources ResearchChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing 100101China College of Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing 100190China 

出 版 物：《Journal of Forestry Research》 (林业研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2022年第33卷第2期

页      面：529-542页

核心收录：

学科分类：0830[工学-环境科学与工程（可授工学、理学、农学学位）] 0907[农学-林学] 08[工学] 0829[工学-林业工程] 0901[农学-作物学] 

基　　金：This study is supported by National Key Research and Development Program(2016YFC0501603). 

主　　题：Rainfall interception loss Canopy storage Canopy structure Regression models China’s Loess Plateau 

摘      要：Understanding the interaction between canopy structure and the parameters of interception loss is essential in predicting the variations in partitioning rainfall and water resources as affected by changes in canopy structure and in implementing water-based management in semiarid forest plantations.In this study,seasonal variations in rainfall interception loss and canopy storage capacity as driven by canopy structure were predicted and the linkages were tested using seasonal filed measurements.The study was conducted in nine 50 m×50 m Robinia pseudoacacia plots in the semiarid region of China’s Loess Plateau.Gross rain-fall,throughfall and stemflow were measured in seasons with and without leaves in 2015 and 2016.Results show that measured average interception loss for the nine plots were 17.9% and 9.4% of gross rainfall during periods with leaves (the growing season) and without leaves, respectively. Average canopy storage capacity estimated using an indirect method was 1.3 mm in the growing season and 0.2 mm in the leafless season. Correlations of relative interception loss and canopy storage capacity to canopy variables were highest for leaf/wood area index (LAI/WAI) and canopy cover, fol-lowed by bark area, basal area, tree height and stand density. Combined canopy cover, leaf/wood area index and bark area multiple regression models of interception loss and canopy storage capacity were established for the growing season and in the leafless season in 2015. It explained 97% and 96% of the variations in relative interception loss during seasons with and without leaves, respectively. It also explained 98% and 99% of the variations in canopy storage capacity during seasons with and without leaves, respectively. The empiri-cal regression models were validated using field data col-lected in 2016. The models satisfactorily predicted relative interception loss and canopy storage capacity during seasons with and without leaves. This study provides greater under-standing about the effects of changes in tree canopy structure (e.g., dieback or mortality) on hydrological processes.