Spatial variability of canopy interception in a spruce forest of the semiarid mountain regions of China

• Spatial variability of canopy interception was examined by statistical techniques.
• The influence of canopy structure on canopy interception was analyzed.
• The minimum number and locations of collectors were estimated by the values of plant area index.

Canopy interception has large spatial variability which complicates measurements and achievement of spatial representation. In the present study, we measured gross rainfall and throughfall from June 2011 to October 2012, and leaf area index (LAI), plant area index (PAI), and spatial locations of trees within Picea crassifolia forest in Qilian mountains of northwestern China. Spatial variability of canopy interception and related factors, and the minimum number and locations of collectors were analyzed by statistical techniques. The results show that spatial variation of canopy interception has a significant relationship with PAI, but not with LAI. This indicates that PAI is more appropriate parameters for a canopy interception model than LAI. Based on the relationship between canopy interception loss and PAI, the minimum number and locations of collectors were estimated. In this study, 10–12 collectors yielded representative throughfall in the forest, but these collectors required to be placed at the sites of mean values of PAI.

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