Direct through fall coefficient and canopy storage capacity by a Picea abies plantation in Kelardasht, North of Iran

The aim was to estimate canopy storage capacity (S) and the ratio of mean evaporation rate from the wet canopy to the mean rainfall intensity, and the direct through fall coefficient (p) of a Picea abies plantation using the regression methods in Kelardasht, North of Iran. To measure gross rainfall (GR), four rain-gauges were installed in an open space adjacent to the stand and through fall (TF) was measured using the twenty rain-gauges randomly located beneath the canopy cover. Rainfall interception (I) was calculated as the difference between GR and TF. Twenty-one rainfall events were recorded with a cumulative depth of 380.1 mm. The TF and (TF:GR)% were recorded 48.8% and 39.6% of the incident rainfall on the cumulative-based, and event-based (each GR), respectively. Positive linear correlation was observed between I and GR (R= 0.92) and logarithmic correlation was established between (TF:GR)% and GR (r2= 0.43). The mean value of p, S, and estimated were found to be 0.34, 2.15 mm, and 0.43, respectively. Estimating the amount of I and its components, e.g., S, p, and , as well as transpiration of trees are required while selecting the adapted species for afforestation.