THE ROLE OF YERBA MATE (ILEX PARAGUARIENSIS) IN THE REDISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL BY INTERCEPTION

Vegetation cover plays an essential role in the vertical and horizontal distribution of rainwater. As rainwater passes through canopy, it can be divided into interception loss, throughfall, stemflow. In areas where yerba mate is cultivated, loss influences variability water reaching soil, surface runoff, nutrient cycling. The objective this study was to evaluate stemflow, ( Iex paraguariensis ). conducted Guará District, municipality Guarapuava, south-central region Paraná, Brazil. Measurements were from July 2019 March 2020. Average rainfall interception, stemflow for accounted 13.6%, 86.1%, 0.3% precipitation, respectively. Throughfall increased with precipitation. rate showed variation according characteristics: volume, duration, intensity. structure, shape, density leaves branches result uneven that reaches soil by directing flow specific points. results indicate caused changes circulation distribution.