Does beech forest really have water recharge function?

An experimental study at Appi Plateau in Iwate Prefecture

Abstract

At a beech forest at Appi Plateau in Iwate Prefecture, the authors investigeted the water recharge function of soil layer using TDR soil moisture meter and soil penetrometer. The water retention capacity of the beech forest is high, from the measuring data of high soil water content in dry period. However, the water storage capacity, so called "forest dam" could not be high, because the soil thickness of study site is almost shallow, less than 1 m.