Estudos de hidrologia em povoamentos de Quercus suber e caracterizaçao mesológica do ecossistema

The main objective of the project is to assess the effect of different types of soil management under cork-oak tree stands on water use and cork productivity. The study utilized a 5.5 ha watershed near the town of Mora, center of Portugal. The watershed contained scattered cork- oak with natural pasture, which is probably the most representative formof landuse in the region. de 1990, que va mostrar la The project used the basic water balance equation, being evaluated incident rainfall, runoff, evapotranspiration and changes in soil water storage. Measurements of the tree stands and canopies were included for the characterization of throughfall and stemflow. Interception was estimated to evaluate its effects onrainfallredistribution and onthe dynarnics of evapotranspiration. Collection of data for the intensive hydrologic study begun in October 1, 1988. During 1989, surface runoff was 10.8 percent of annual rainfall. For the same period, canopy interception by the Quercus suber stand was 15.4 percent and throughfall accounted for 84.6 percent of annual rainfall, as stemfiow was considered negligible. Statistical analysis of data related to the period January, 1990 to May, 1990 is now being undertaken. Itis apparent, however, from the study, that the data sets should be extended through further research to confirm the tentative hydrological trends of the first period.