• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.30-40
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• 2021

This study developed quantitative models to estimate the rainfall interception by seven native landscape tree species based on throughfall measurements. The tree species considered in this study were Abies holophylla, Acer palmatum, Ginkgo biloba, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Prunus yedoensis, and Zelkova serrata, which are frequently planted in the Korea. Among these species, 35.8% of the annual precipitation was intercepted by P. koraiensis, 34.1% by A. holophylla, 31.0% by Z. serrata, 27.6% by P. densiflora, 26.9% by G. biloba, 18.6% by A. palmatum, and 18.4% by P. yedoensis. All the quantitative models showed high fitness with r² values of 0.90-0.99. The annual rainfall interception from a tree with DBH of 20 cm were greatest with Z. serrata (5.1 m³/yr), followed by P. koraiensis (4.1 m³/yr), A. holophylla (3.1 m³/yr), G. biloba (2.8 m³/yr), P. densiflora (2.1 m³/yr), P. yedoensis (1.9 m³/yr), and A. palmatum (1.8 m³/yr) in order. Thus, evergreen tree species or those with a relatively high crown density were more effective in intercepting rainfall. In particular, the annual rainfall interception by Z. serrata was the greatest because its crown area, volume, and density were higher than those of the other species. This study pioneers in quantifying annual rainfall interception for landscape tree species in Korea. The study results can be useful for evaluating rainfall interception by landscape trees in urban greenspace design for governments and corporations.