Changes in low flow with the conversion of a coniferous plantation to a broad-leaved forest in a summer precipitation region, Japan

Converting coniferous plantations to broad-leaved forests is believed to result in increased runoff in Japan. This study examined low-flow changes in runoff in the Tatsunokuchi-Minami catchment, located in a region with summer precipitation, caused by the conversion of a coniferous plantation to a broad-leaved forest. We compared the flow duration curves for the coniferous plantation period with those for the broad-leaved forest period. We observed no evidence of increased low flows according to the change in forest type. Thus, the commonly held belief was not supported by the results from a summer precipitation region with respect to low-flow rates.