Interception losses of rainfall from Cashew trees

The rainfall interception losses from Cashew trees were quantified, based on the records of 105 selected storms within the range 25.0 mm, occurring in a humid tropical region at Kottamparamba, India.

The storage capacity of the Cashew trees was worked out as 0.8 mm and the throughfall coefficient as 0.391. The trees under observation were 15–20 years of age with a leaf area index of 1.0–1.25.

About 31% of the storm rainfall for storms 25.0 mm was intercepted by the Cashew trees and lost to the atmosphere.

The measured interception losses from the trees were compared with the estimated interception losses using the analytical model of Gash (1979). The predicted interception losses from the Cashew trees were within ± 10% for storms with total rainfall 10.0 mm and within ± 22% for storms with a rainfall of 10.1–25.0 mm.