Short term responses of streamflow following clearcutting in Eucalyptus globulus stands in central Portugal

Wien

1988

8 Abb., 1 Tab., 12 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

673

200005047

To study the hydrological influences of Eucalyptus globulus, two experimental catchments were set up in Central Portugal. The results have so far shown that, after clearcutting in stands of this fast growing species, there are significant increases in water yield, in peak flows and in the volume of the slow components of streamflow. These results suggest that Eucalypt plantations, compared to shorter vegetation, tend to reduce the magnitude of floods as well as the total amount of water available to other users. The results also show that the hydrological behaviour of catchments covered with even-aged E. globulus stands, frequently repeatedly harvested by extensive clearcut techniques at short time intervals (10/12years), may oscillate strongly in time. Proper forest management practices should thus be recommended to avoid this problem.