Stem Flow and Nutrient Transfer in a Tropical Rain Forest

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Abstract
Volume of stem flow and total amount of nutrients transferred by stem flow were measured in a tierra firme (never flooded) site and a seasonally flooded site in a lowland tropical rain forest in the Amazon Territory of Venezuela. Stem flow volume in the tierra firme site was between 7-8% of rainfall, but trees less than 10 cm diameter accounted for more than 80% of this volume. In the flooded site, stem flow was about 2% of rainfall. Total annual nutrient transfer by stem flow was approximately equal to total growing season nutrient transfer in temperate zone studies, but lower than total annual nutrient transfer by stem flow in a montane rain forest of Puerto Rico.