Chemical characteristics in stemflow of Japanese cedar in Japan

To clarify the characteristics in stemflow of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria j aponica), we conducted the annual and extensive observation. We examined th e chemistry of bulk and wet deposition, throughfall and stemflow at 26 fore sted sites in June and September 1998. The each sampling site was broadly d istributed in all over the Japanese archipelago. The stemflow pH of Japanes e cedar was significantly lower (p<0.01) than precipitation and stemflow of broad-leaved species in both months. There were significant anion deficits in stemflow of Japanese cedar, suggesting that organic anions derived from plant sources play an important role in the stemflow acidity. Our results suggested that the strong stemflow acidity in Japanese cedar was derived fr om an internal biological characteristic rather than influences of external acidic depsition.