Li et al. (2026) Ecohydrological mechanisms of river runoff destabilization following the conversion from long-rotation to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations

Identification

• Journal: Forest Ecology and Management
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-07
• Authors: Lisha Li, Xiaolin Su, Gairen Yang, Yusong Deng, Zhifeng Xie, Yuhan Huang, Guijin Chen, Jingrui Yu, Mingxia Yang
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123483

Research Groups

• Forestry College of Guangxi University, China
• Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, China
• Guangxi State-controlled Forestry Investment Co., Ltd, China
• Guangxi State-owned Gaofeng Forest Farm, China

Short Summary

This study investigated the ecohydrological impacts of converting long-rotation native forests to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations in Guangxi, China, revealing that while total streamflow remained stable, its interannual and seasonal distribution became significantly more unbalanced due to altered water partitioning, particularly increased soil evaporation.

Objective

• To systematically investigate the relationships and trade-offs between key hydrological processes (evapotranspiration, canopy interception, streamflow) following the conversion from long-rotation native mixed forests to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations, with a focus on accurately separating soil evaporation from total forest evapotranspiration to understand mechanisms of hydrological disturbance.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Field monitoring sites within Eucalyptus plantations (EU) and native mixed forests (MF) in Guangxi, China.
• Temporal Scale: 5.5 years of continuous field monitoring.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly mentioned; the study focused on accurate measurement and effective separation techniques for soil evaporation from total forest evapotranspiration.
• Data sources: Continuous field monitoring data collected from Eucalyptus plantations and native mixed forests.

Main Results

• Canopy rainfall interception was 29.5 % lower in Eucalyptus plantations (EU) compared to native mixed forests (MF).
• Soil evaporation was 62.7 % higher in EU compared to MF.
• Total streamflow during the short rotation period did not change significantly between EU and MF.
• The interannual and seasonal distribution of streamflow became more unbalanced in EU.
• The number of zero-flow months increased by 2.5 times in EU relative to MF.
• The youthfulness and simplified structure of EU enhanced topsoil evaporation and reduced deep water infiltration.
• This led to a “profligate-thirst” effect in the surface soil, weakening the forest’s function as an underground reservoir and undermining streamflow stability.

Contributions

• Achieved accurate measurement and effective separation of soil evaporation from total forest evapotranspiration, addressing a key methodological limitation in ecohydrological studies.
• Provided systematic, long-term (5.5 years) field-based evidence quantifying the ecohydrological impacts of converting to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations.
• Quantified specific changes in canopy interception, soil evaporation, and streamflow stability, including the significant increase in zero-flow months.
• Identified and explained the "profligate-thirst" effect as a mechanism contributing to streamflow destabilization.
• Proposed practical management strategies to mitigate the negative hydrological consequences of short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations.

Funding

• Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Li2026Ecohydrological,
  author = {Li, Lisha and Su, Xiaolin and Yang, Gairen and Deng, Yusong and Xie, Zhifeng and Huang, Yuhan and Chen, Guijin and Yu, Jingrui and Yang, Mingxia},
  title = {Ecohydrological mechanisms of river runoff destabilization following the conversion from long-rotation to short-rotation Eucalyptus plantations},
  journal = {Forest Ecology and Management},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123483},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123483}
}