Interception, throughfall and stemflow in a Pinus sylvestris plantation of the Candelario Basin (central-eastern Spain)

Abstract

The annual return of bioelements through rainfall was estimated in a reforested plantation of scot pine (P. sylvestris L.) in the Candelario Basin (Spanish Central System). It was observed that 91% of the mean annual rainfall (1.020 mm) reaches the soil under the tree canopy. Of it, 88% was found to correspond to throughfall, and the remaining 12% to stemflow. It was also observed that interception water, which later evaporates, reaches 9% of the inciding rainfall water. The return of bioelements to the soil mainly occurs throughfall, with the exception of copper; 60% of which is contributed by stemflow.