Application of the method of spatial point pattern analysis to the horizontal spatial distribution of preferential flow paths

Preferential flow significantly influences hydrological processes in forests. The occurrence and development of this flow is directly affected by its spatial distribution. To determine whether or not point pattern analysis method can be used to examine the horizontal spatial distribution of preferential flow paths, experiments were conducted with dye tracer permeation to observe flow processes. Results indicated that an increase in penetration water volume exerted only a specific effect on preferential flow paths of large class in the topmost soil. Moreover, such paths showed distinct clumped patterns at the 25-cm scale under both high permeation water volume and low permeation water volume treatments. Nonetheless, the distribution pattern became uniform as scale range increased. The significance of the correlation between the spatial distribution of preferential flow paths and plant roots decreased from the top soil layer to the bottom. These findings suggest that soil depth and water permeation volume are important to the horizontal spatial distribution of preferential flow paths. Moreover, point pattern analysis method is suitable for investigating the horizontal spatial distribution of preferential flow paths and determining the correlation between the spatial distribution of preferential flow paths and plant roots.