Changes in the characteristics of after logging streamflow hydrograph of Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell stands

Abstract

The wide scale development of Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell plantation in Riau Province applying the clear cutting silvicultural system on fast-growing tree species allegedly have an impact on the changing of watershed hydrological functions. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the characteristics of after logging stream flow hydrograph of E. pellita forest stand. The research was carried out in E. pellita plantations in Perawang, Riau Province using 4.62 ha of micro-catchment as an observation unit. The method used is the analysis of hydrograph units on chosen data of flood hydrograph. The research concludes that clear-cutting system has led to increasing the peak flow discharge from an average of 0.226 m3.s-1 to be 0.322 m3.s-1, shortening the time base of hydrograph from an average of 143 minutes to be 90 minutes, shortening the time to peak flow from an average of 80 minutes to be 40 minutes, as well as declining the base flow from an average of 0.0056 m3.s-1 to be 0.0032 m3.s-1.