Forest Management Effects on Below-Ground Hydrological Processes

Forests significantly affect their own and adjacent environments. These effects can be modified through management practices that influence tree species composition, structure, texture and the density of forest stands. Resulting changes exert an impact on below-ground hydrological processes in forests ecosystems, e.g. infiltration, redistribution and seepage. The choice of tree species, thinning and tending, application of forest management systems, rotation periods, as well as ditching or burning exert decisive impacts on the most important water transport routes and interfaces, as well as processes and parameters associated with them. They include leaf area index, roughness and albedo of forest canopies, interception and its spatial variability, stemflow, surface humus layer properties, water repellency of soils, desiccation and others. All of them exist in a highly heterogeneous environment that results in non-uniform and unstable flow of water. Finally, the influence of forest management practices on the quality of water (mainly nitrogen content) in forest ecosystems is discussed.