Zhang et al. (2026) Rainfall partitioning dynamics of apple orchards at two growth stages differs among rainfall categories in a subhumid region

Identification

• Journal: Agricultural Water Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-06-23
• Authors: Jie Zhang, Y ZHAO, Kaixuan Shang, Di Wang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110569

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, China Agricultural University
• College of Water Resources and Intelligence Engineering, China Agricultural University
• CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Short Summary

This study investigates the dynamics of rainfall partitioning in apple orchards under different growth stages and rainfall categories. The results show that rainfall category has a stronger association with variation in canopy interception (Ic) and throughfall (TF), while growth stage effects on rainfall partitioning are limited.

Objective

• Investigate how event-scale rainfall partitioning in apple orchards responds to the combined effects of different growth stages and rainfall categories.
• Quantify the dynamics of event-based rainfall partitioning components (Ic, SF, and TF) under the combined effects of growth stage and rainfall category.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Orchard scale
• Temporal Scale: Event-scale, seasonal

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Boosted Regression Trees with partial dependence plots (PDPs)
• Data sources: Field measurements of Ic, SF, TF, LAI, and meteorological variables in two adjacent apple orchards on the Loess Plateau during four consecutive growing seasons.

Main Results

• Ic occurred in all 209 rainfall events, while TF and SF were observed in only 158 events.
• Mean Ic was higher in the mature orchard (17.48 ± 12.15%) than in the young orchard (14.59 ± 11.98%).
• Mean TF was lower in the mature orchard (80.63 ± 11.74%) than in the young orchard (83.50 ± 11.61%).
• Rainfall category had a stronger association with variation in Ic and TF, while growth stage effects on rainfall partitioning were limited.

Contributions

• This study improves understanding of event-scale eco-hydrological processes in orchard ecosystems.
• The results provide insights into the dynamics of rainfall partitioning under different growth stages and rainfall categories.

Funding

• This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51909245).
• The State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, China Agricultural University also provided financial support for this project.

Citation

@article{Zhang2026Rainfall,
  author = {Zhang, Jie and ZHAO, Y and Shang, Kaixuan and Wang, Di},
  title = {Rainfall partitioning dynamics of apple orchards at two growth stages differs among rainfall categories in a subhumid region},
  journal = {Agricultural Water Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110569},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110569}
}