Rainfall interception by Mesquite and Huisache in the semi-arid region of Central México

In Mexico there are a few Studies in semiarid environments about the role of vegetation in the regulation of the hydrological processes mainly related to interception loss (EI). Studies on this environments would allow us to understand the mechanisms that determine the spatial and temporal distribution of the water balance components. The study was carried out during the raining seasons of 2006, 2007 and 2008 in three semiarid sites located in the south of the Mexican Plateau: El Carmen in Guanajuato State and Amazcala and Cadereyta in the State of Queretaro. The work aim was to quantify and to model the rainfall interception process employing an adequate sampling strategy and an evaluation of the models developed by Rutter et al. (1975) and Gash (1979) in two shrubs species: huisache (Acacia farnesisna) and mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) both, in situ. A total of 18, 20, and 59 precipitation events (where EI was quantified) were measured for each species in Amazcala, Cadereyta and El Carmen respectively, making a total of 194 EI records. It was found that EI represented between 20% and 22% of the total rainfall (PG), Gash’s model reproduced EI with satisfactory efficiency (E>0.6) and wind’s speed and maximum intensity have a local effect on EI.