Flora of the ussurian section of the Trans-siberian railway and its correlation with the characteristics of natural biomes

Проведена инвентаризация чужеродных и аборигенных видов растений вдоль Транссибирской магистрали на участке Тельман (Еврейская АО) - Хабаровск (Хабаровский край) - Владивосток (Приморский край) протяженностью 780 км. Исследована растительность 9 железнодорожных станций и участков железной дороги на перегонах, расположенных в трех естественных биомах: Амуро-Уссурийском подтаежном, Зее-Буреинском Приханкайском лесостепном и СихотэАлинском Южном. На каждом участке заложены площадки размером 100 м² в трех различных экотопах: на железнодорожном полотне, на откосах и на подошве железнодорожной насыпи в полосе отчуждения, всего составлено 66 геоботанических описаний. Выявлено 210 видов сосудистых растений: 22 вида древесных растений, 117 поликарпических и 71 вид монокарпических травянистых растений. Чужеродные для флоры Дальнего Востока виды составляют 35% найденных сосудистых растений, 11 из них входят в список самых опасных инвазионных видов России (ТОП-100). Наименее представлена группа древесных растений (10%), наиболее часто встречаются три дерева - инвазионный Acer negundo и аборигенные Salix nipponica и Ulmus pumila. Доля чужеродных видов минимальна в группе древесных растений - 18%. Максимальна доля чужеродных видов среди монокарпических трав (37 видов, 52%), причем большинство монокарпиков (28 видов) являются инвазионными.Наибольшее число видов (162, 77%) отмечено в Амуро-Уссурийском подтаежном биоме, 98 видов (47%) зарегистрировано в Зее-Буреинском Приханкайском лесостепном биоме и 72 вида (34%) - в Сихотэ- Алинском Южном биоме. Число видов коррелирует с природно- климатическими и флористическими характеристиками биомов; по снижению силы корреляции показатели располагаются в ряду: средняя температура → число видов сосудистых растений на 100 км² → среднегодовое количество осадков → общее число видов сосудистых растений. Наименее значимая корреляция с изученными характеристиками отмечена в группе монокарпических трав. Коэффициент сходства флор различных биомов сравнительно низок (Ks ≤ 45%), общими для всех трех биомов являются только 29 видов, причем 18 из них - чужеродные. Самое низкое сходство наблюдается между фитоценозами в полосе отчуждения: это демонстрирует сильное влияние естественной растительности на формирование «железнодорожной» флоры. An inventory of alien and native plant species along the Far East segment of Trans-Siberian Railway was carried out. The studied segment (780 km) runs from Telman station (Jewish Autonomous Region) through Khabarovsk (Khabarovsk Territory) to Vladivostok (Primorsky Territory). Vegetation was studied in three types of natural biomes - Amur-Ussuri Sub-Taiga biome, Zee-Bureya Prikhanka forest-steppe biome, and Sikhote Alin South biome. A total 66 releves were made. 210 species of vascular plants were identified: 22 woody, 117 polycarpic herbs and 71 monocarpic herbs. Alien species for the Far East account for 35% of the vascular plants found, 11 of which are included on the list of the most dangerous invasive species of Russia (Top 100). Woody species are the group that’s least represented (10%), and 3 trees are the most often recorded: invasive Acer negundo, native Salix nipponica and native Ulmus pumila. The maximum fraction of alien species is noted among monocarpic herbs (37 species, 52%), and the majority of these monocarpics (28 species) are invasive. The highest number of species (162, 77%) was recorded in the Amur-Ussuri Sub-Taiga biome. In the Zee-Bureya Prikhanka forest-steppe biome 98 species (47%) were recorded, and 72 species (34%) were recorded in the Sikhote Alin South biome. The number of species correlates with biomes’ natural-climatic and floristic characteristics; in terms of decreasing the force of correlation, the indicators are arranged in the following series: average temperature → number of vascular plant species per 100 km² → average annual precipitation → total number of vascular plant species in the biom. The group of monocarpic herbs has the lowest correlation with the studied factors. The similarity (Sørensen) of the species pool of different biomes is relatively low (Ks ≤ 45%); only 29 species are uniform to all three biomes, and 18 of them are alien ones. The lowest similarity was observed between the plant communities in the railway right of way: this demonstrates the significant influence of natural vegetation on forming the "railway" flora.

Longevity of Ulmus pumila L. in protective afforestation on semi-desert lands of the Astrakhan Zavolzhye

The article provides a predictive assessment of longevity of Ulmus pumila L. stands in the Astrakhan Zavolzhye. The effi and expediency of renewable logging for rejuvenation and increasing the longevity of plantings in the semi-desert were confi The classifi of ecotopes of the Astrakhan Zavolzhye on suitability for cultivation of protective and shadow elm plantings on pasture lands was developed and presented. In the Caspian region, Ulmus pumila became widespread in forest reclamation of semi-desert lands in the 1950s. Since then, till the beginning of the 1990s, Bogdinskaya research agroforestry experimental station laid on the sandy massifs about 1 thousand hectares of Ulmus pumila L. plantings, which currently amounts to 1824 %. The long-term practice of using protective shade Ulmus pumila umbrellas has shown their signifi ecological effect on functioning pastures. The aim of the research was to develop an improved technology for creating long-lived protective shade stands of Ulmus pumila on degraded pastures of the Astrakhan Zavolzhye. The research was carried out using generally accepted methods of stand forest taxation by A.P. Anuchin (1961), 1. Bitvinskas (1974) and A.S. Manaenkov (2001). Soil conditions were studied by drilling sounding to 3 m depth. The results of the research revealed that the longevity of wood species in the dry-steppe zone was determined mainly by two factors: productive moisture in the soil and salinity level. The most favorable growing conditions for Ulmus pumila were unsalted (to a depth of at least 3 m) brown sandy soils, sandy loam soils, dark-colored swale soils with periodic redistributed accumulation of moisture. In arid conditions of the Astrakhan Zavolzhye in island plantations (group of trees, umbrellas, 0.51 ha parts of forest area) and optimal growing conditions without logging and reforestation, Ulmus pumila lives up to 6070 years.

Effects of Irrigation and Fertilization on the Morphophysiological Traits of Populus sibirica Hort. Ex Tausch and Ulmus pumila L. in the Semiarid Steppe Region of Mongolia

Desertification is impeding the implementation of reforestation efforts in Mongolia. Many of these efforts have been unsuccessful due to a lack of technical knowledge on water and nutrient management strategies, limited financial support, and short-lived rainfall events. We investigated the effects of irrigation and fertilization on the morphophysiological traits of Populus sibirica Hort. Ex Tausch and Ulmus pumila L. and to suggest irrigation and fertilization strategies for reforestation. Different irrigation and fertilizer treatments were applied: no irrigation, 2 L h−1, 4 L h−1, and 8 L h−1 of water; no fertilizer, 2 L h−1 + NPK, 4 L h−1 + NPK, and 8 L h−1 + NPK; and no compost, 2 L h−1 + compost, 4 L h−1 + compost, and 8 L h−1 + compost. The leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA) of both species responded positively to 4 and 8 L h−1. Results also showed that the addition of either NPK or compost to 4 or 8 L h−1 irrigation resulted in a higher LA, SLA, and leaf biomass (LB). Total chlorophyll content decreased with irrigation in both species. The same pattern was detected when a higher amount of irrigation was combined with fertilizers. Lastly, we found that both diurnal and seasonal leaf water potential of plants grown in 4 or 8 L h−1 were significantly higher than those of plants grown in control plots. Therefore, 4 or 8 L h−1 with either NPK or compost has shown to be the optimal irrigation and fertilization strategy for the species in an arid and semiarid region of Mongolia. Results should provide us with a better understanding of tree responses to varying amounts of irrigation with or without fertilizer in pursuit of sustainable forest management in arid and semiarid ecosystems.

Assessment of adaptive capacity of native and adventive species of trees and shrubs in Dnipro region

Nowadays, deterioration and loss of ecological functions of urban tree and shrub plantations take place in Europe and, in particular, in Ukraine; it was noted that their number is insufficient to counteract the negative impact of global climate change and protect the population against industrial pollution effects. The issue of resistance of native and adventitious tree species used in the plantations of industrial cities remains relevant; it necessitates the assessment of physiological and biochemical aspects of their adaptation to extreme environmental factors, such as moisture limit in the steppe zone, periodic dangerously low winter temperatures and anthropo-technogenic load (in large urban agglomerations). In order to optimize the assortment of tree species of large megalopolises of the steppe zone of Ukraine and determine their potential resistance to anthropogenic pressures the study was conducted in conditionally clean forest biogeocenoses of the Samara River levee zone and in artificial plantations on the territories located in the coastal zone of the Dnipro River within 1500 m from the Prydneprovskaya thermal electric station (PTES, Dnipro city). It well known that the TPP is the source of atmospheric air pollution by such heavy metals as lead and cadmium. A study of the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes in leaves of native and adventive tree species showed that in the zone of Prydneprovskaya TES impact there was an increase of guaiacol peroxidase activity in Acer platanoides, Ulmus minor, Morus alba; benzidine peroxidase in Acer negundo, Ulmus laevis, Acer platanoides; catalase in A. platanoides, A. negundo, U. laevis, Ulmus pumila and Robinia pseudoasasia. High peroxidase activity, which is complemented by higher catalase activity, indicates the relative resistance of these species to atropo-technogenic pressures supported by antioxidant defense mechanisms. Total chlorophyll content (Chla + Chlb) in leaves of native species Ulmus laevis, Acer platanoides and adventive Morus alba decreased in the zone of TPP impact in relation to conditionally clean areas. The ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b in contaminated areas significantly increased in leaves of native species Ulmus laevis, Ulmus minor, Acer platanoides compared with control. The invasive species Acer negundo, Morus alba, Ulmus pumila had no significant changes in this indicator. In invasive species such as Ulmus pumila, Acer negundo there was an increase in leaf mass, which may indicate adaptation of these species to anthropogenically altered growth conditions.

Effects of Irrigation and Fertilization on the Morpho-Physiological Traits of Populus sibirica Hort. Ex Tausch and Ulmus pumila L. In the Semi-arid Steppe Region of Mongolia

Desertification is impeding the implementation of reforestation efforts in Mongolia. Many of these efforts have been unsuccessful due to lack of technical knowledge on water and nutrient management strategies, limited financial support, and short-lived rainfall events. We investigated the effects of irrigation and fertilization on the morpho-physiological traits of Populus sibirica Hort. Ex Tausch and Ulmus pumila L. and to suggest irrigation and fertilization strategies for reforestation. Different irrigation and fertilizer treatments were applied: no irrigation, 2 L h-1, 4 L h-1 and 8 L h-1 of water; no fertilizer, 2 L h-1 + NPK, 4 L h-1 + NPK, and 8 L h-1 + NPK; and no compost, 2 L h-1 + compost, 4 L h-1 + compost, and 8 L h-1 + compost. The leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA) of both species responded positively to 4 L h-1 and/or 8 L h-1. Results also showed that the addition of either NPK or compost to 4 L h-1 and/or 8 L h-1 irrigation resulted in a higher LA, SLA, and leaf biomass (LB). Total chlorophyll content decreased with irrigation in both species. The same pattern was detected when a higher amount of irrigation was combined with fertilizers. Lastly, we found that both diurnal and seasonal leaf water potential of plants grown in 4 L h-1 and/or 8 L h-1 were significantly higher than in control plots. Therefore, 4 L h-1 and/or 8 L h-1 with either NPK or compost has shown to be the optimal irrigation and fertilization strategy for the species in an arid and semi-arid region of Mongolia. Results should provide us with a better understanding of tree responses to varying amounts of irrigation with or without fertilizer in pursuit of sustainable forest management in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

Biomass Yield and Economic, Energy and Carbon Balances of Ulmus pumila L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Populus × euroamericana (Dode) Guinier Short-Rotation Coppices on Degraded Lands under Mediterranean Climate

The steadily increasing demand for energy and concerns about climate change have prompted countries to promote the use of renewable energy sources, including lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this work aims to assess the biomass production for energy purposes in crops with short rotation, as well as its effect on soil properties. Deciduous tree species were used, mainly Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and a hybrid poplar clone (Populus × euroamericana (Dode) Guinier, clone ‘AF2′). Four field trials were implemented, under two different types of Mediterranean climate, where highly productive taxa were tested, in addition to the mixed planting of a nitrogen-fixing species with a non-fixing one. Short-rotation coppices (SRCs) of these taxa yield about 12–14 t ha−1 year−1 of high-quality dry woody biomass, when fertilizers and irrigation water are supplied; generate 205–237 GJ ha−1 year−1 net and earnings of about EUR 1.5 per EUR 1 invested; and sequester into the soil 0.36–0.83 t ha−1 year−1 of C and 57 kg ha−1 year−1 of N. Therefore, these species raised as SRCs could improve degraded soils if the crop is properly managed, resulting in favorable economic, energy and CO2 emission balances. The use of mixed plantations can bring economic and environmental gains, and the biomass transformation into high-quality chips or pellets gives it added value.

Зміни лісомеліоративної складової протиерозійних заходів на прикладі ділянки з контурно-меліоративною організацією території

Мета. Визначення функціональних змін лісомелі-оративної складової частини протиерозійних заходівна прикладі п’яти лісосмуг, що розташовані на схи-ловій ділянці з контурно-меліоративною організацієютериторії в умовах Північного Степу України. Методи.Порівняльний та ретроспективний – для обробленнярізночасових космічних зображень території дослі-джень для виявлення змін у структурі лісомеліора-тивних заходів в умовах регіонального ландшафтуПівнічного Степу. Як картографічну основу використо-вували топографічні карти М 1:10 000, а подальшу їхобробку й інтерпретацію проводили за допомогою ГІС-програм на кшталт ARC-GIS®, QGIS®. За результатамиобробки даних планували визначення ділянок лісосмугіз пошкодженою та відсутньою функціональною части-ною. Оціночний метод визначення стану деревних поріду захисних насадженнях за класифікацією їхньої життє-діяльності для умов степу та напівпустелі. Результати.Виявлено зміни лісомеліоративної складової частинипротиерозійних заходів у вигляді доповнення рос-линності лісомеліоративних насаджень дикорослоюпорослю таких деревних порід, як: ясень пенсильван-ський (Fraxinus Pennsylvanica), в’яз приземкуватий(Ulmus Pumila), клен ясенелистий (Acer Platanoides).Поросль дикорослих чагарникових порід була представ-лена кленом татарським (Acer Tataricum) та жимолостютатарською (Lonicera Tatarica). Зафіксовано зменшенняфункціональної частини приплакорної лісосмуги у верх-ній частині схилу на 82%, а лісосмуг у нижній частинісхилу на 56 та 59% відповідно. Оцінено життєздатністьта життєстійкість лісомеліоративних заходів за середнімбалом та встановлено відповідність проєктній доку-ментації лише двох лісосмуг, розташованих у середнійчастині схилу. Висновки. Оцінивши зміни лісомеліо-ративної складової частини протиерозійних заходів наприкладі робочої ділянки з контурно-меліоративноюорганізацією території, можна говорити про недостатнюїї захищеність від прояву водних ерозійних процесів. З метою запобігання змиву ґрунту на зазначеній тери-торії запропоновано провести доповнення або віднов-лення наявних лісомеліоративних заходів, організуватидодаткові агротехнічні й організаційно-господарські про-тиерозійні заходи.