Characterizing hydrological processes during heavy rain in planted forest watersheds as affected by infiltration properties of surface soils.

Abstract

It is suggested that extensive forestry may cause water pollution during heavy rain. However, it is not explained by the water quality analysis because mixing or dilution process may occur in the stream water. In this study, soil infiltration water and runoff water were sampled and analyzed to characterize hydrological processes in two planted forests (SR1: without thinning operation, SR2: with thinning operation). Soil infiltration water analysis, thus, clearly showed the hydrological processes in the forest soils. These results showed that the dilution effect in SR2 (with thinning operation) was not effective during heavy rain event. The well-maintained SR2 could not hold the buffering potential and high pollution load drained to run off water during the heavy rainfall event.