Changes in low flow with the conversion of a coniferous plantation to a broad‐leaved forest in a summer precipitation region, Japan

Converting coniferous plantations to broad‐leaved forests is believed to result in increased runoff in Japan. This study examined low‐flow changes in runoff in the Tatsunokuchi–Minami catchment, located in a region with summer precipitation, caused by the conversion of a coniferous plantation to a broad‐leaved forest. We compared the flow duration curves for the coniferous plantation period with those for the broad‐leaved forest period. We observed no evidence of increased low flows according to the change in forest type. Thus, the commonly held belief was not supported by the results from a summer precipitation region with respect to low‐flow rates.