2007 Volume 37 Issue 4 Pages 187-200
Stemflow has a significant influence on hydrological and ecological processes within forests. However, research on stemflow is scant as stemflow comprises a very small volume compared to throughfall. In Japan, forest cover mainly distributed in mountainous areas occupies nearly 70% of the total land area and ranges from subalpine to subtropical zones. Many hydrological and agricultural studies have been conducted but a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the generation and chemical characteristics of stemflow is lacking. The purpose of this review is to interpret the results from Japanese forest stemflow papers and to propose objectives for future studies.
