The effect of forest type on throughfall deposition and seepage flux: a review

Abstract

Converting deciduous forests to coniferous plantations and vice versa causes environmental changes, but till now insight into the overall effect is lacking. This review, based on 38 case studies, aims to find out how coniferous and deciduous forests differ in terms of throughfall (+stemflow) deposition and seepage flux to groundwater. From the comparison of coniferous and deciduous stands at comparable sites, it can be inferred that deciduous forests receive less N and S via throughfall (+stemflow) deposition on the forest floor. In regions with relatively low open field deposition of atmospheric N (<10 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)), lower NH(4)(+) mean throughfall (+stemflow) deposition was, however, reported under conifers compared to deciduous forest, while in regions with high atmospheric N pollution (>10 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)), the opposite could be concluded. The higher the open field deposition of NH(4)(+), the bigger the difference between the coniferous and deciduous throughfall (+stemflow) deposition. Furthermore, it can be concluded that canopy exchange of K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) is on average higher in deciduous stands. The significantly higher stand deposition flux of N and S in coniferous forests is reflected in a higher soil seepage flux of NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Al(III). Considering a subset of papers for which all necessary data were available, a close relationship between throughfall (+stemflow) deposition and seepage was found for N, irrespective of the forest type, while this was not the case for S. This review shows that the higher input flux of N and S in coniferous forests clearly involves a higher seepage of NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-) and accompanying cations K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Al(III) into the groundwater, making this forest type more vulnerable to acidification and eutrophication compared to the deciduous forest type.

Effects of litter traits, soil biota, and soil chemistry on soil carbon stocks at a common garden with 14 tree species

“…3). Soil acidity could also be influenced by effects of tree species on throughfall N (De Schrijver et al 2011Schrijver et al , 2007), but we did not measure throughfall N.…”

Is canopy interception increased in semiarid tree plantations? Evidence from a field investigation in Tehran, Iran

“…The subscripts 1 to 5 refer to each of the individual trees. 2000;Dunkerely, 2000Dunkerely, , 2008Carlyle-Moses et al, 2004;Fleischbein et al, 2005;Toba and Ohta, 2005;Chang, 2006;Deguchi et al, 2006;De Schrijver et al, 2007;Llorens and Domingo, 2007;Muzylo et al, 2009). The results indicate that the I value in this semiarid location was higher than that of trees located in other humid climates (e.g., Rowe, 1983;Ahmadi et al, 2009).…”

Seasonal variations of throughfall chemistry in pure and mixed stands of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Hyrcanian forests (Iran)

“…Forest canopy has a major impact on soil nutrient availability through the amount and chemical composition of litter and throughfall (Carnol and Bazgir 2013;De Schrijver et al 2007;Hansen et al 2009;Prescott 2002). Throughfall is that part of incident precipitation which passes through the forest canopy, either directly in gaps or after interacting with foliage and branches (Parker 1983).…”