Tree-based estimation of canopy water storage capacity and direct throughfall coefficient of Cupressus arizonica Green.

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran.

2 Associate Prof., Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, University of Tehran, Karaj

3 Assistant Prof., Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada.

4 Assistant Prof., Department of Wood Science, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the individual tree-based 1) canopy water storage capacity (S), 2)  ratio of mean evaporation rate from the wet canopy to the mean rainfall intensity () by the Pereira method, and 3) direct throughfall coefficient (p) for Cupressus arizonica trees. The trees wereafforested in the Chitgar forest park in Tehran which is classified as a semiarid region. Measurements were carried out from February 2011 to February 2012. To measure the gross rainfall (GR), six rain-gauges were installed in an open space adjacent to the trees. Throughfall  (TF) was measured using a number of twenty rain-gauges located under the crown of five individual trees. Rainfall interception (I) was calculated as the difference between GR and TF. During the measurement period, 55 rainfall events were recorded with a cumulative depth of 234 mm. The C. arizonica trees intercepted 21.8% and 32.1% of the incident rainfall on cumulative-based and event-based (each GR) manner, respectively. Positive and negative power correlations were observed between I and GR (r = 0.89)as well as between(I: GR) % and GR (r = 0.69) for the mean value of five individual trees. Mean values of S,, and p were estimated as 0.38 mm, 0.14, and 0.46, respectively. I and its elements (), S, and p as well as transpiration of trees are, therefore concluded as necessary parameters to be considered when selecting suitable species for afforestation projects in the arid and semiarid zone. In addition and as a key parameter for calculating I, S can be optimally estimated by Pereira method which is exclusively proposed for tree-based measurements.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research
Volume 22, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
October 2014
Pages 447-460

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