Comparisons of soil-water content between a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forest and an evergreen broadleaved forest in western Japan

In Japan, forests of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens, an exotic invasive giant bamboo) have naturalized and expanded rapidly, replacing surrounding broadleaved and coniferous forests. To evaluate impacts caused by these forest-type replacements on the hydrological cycle, soil-water content and its spatial variability in a Moso bamboo forest were compared with those in an adjacent evergreen broadleaved forest, in a case study of a stand in western Japan (northern Kyushu). The volumetric soil-water content averaged over depths between 0 and 60cm was consistently higher in the bamboo stand than that in the broadleaved stand. These results contrast with previous studies comparing the soil-water content in Moso bamboo forests with that in other forest types. The sum of canopy transpiration and soil evaporation (E) in the bamboo stand tended to be larger than that in the broadleaved stand. Small canopy interception loss was reported in the bamboo forest. Therefore, the large amount of E would counterbalance the small canopy interception loss in the bamboo forest. Differences in soil characteristics between the two stands may be the main factor causing differences in soil-water content. Spatial variation in soil-water content in the bamboo stand was larger than that in the broadleaved stand, confirming findings in a previous series of our study. This could happen because the well-developed root-system in the bamboo forest enhances preferential flow in the soil. To evaluate the effects of aggressive invasion of alien giant bamboo on the ecosystem functions, we recommend further studies measuring various hydrological components in various Moso bamboo forests. The volumetric soil water content averaged over depths between 0 and 60 cm was consistently higher in a bamboo stand than that in a broadleaved stand. Differences in soil characteristics between the two stands may be the main factor causing differences in soil water content.