Effects of different intensities of long-term grazing on plant diversity, biomass and carbon stock in alpine shrubland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Grazing is the main grassland management strategy applied in alpine shrubland ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, how different intensities of long-term grazing affect plant diversity, biomass accumulation and carbon (C) stock in these ecosystems is poorly understood. In this study, alpine shrubland with different long-term (more than 30 years) grazing intensities (excluded from grazing for 5 years (EX), light grazing (LG), moderate grazing (MG) and heavy grazing (HG)) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were selected to study changes in plant diversity, aboveground biomass and C accumulation, as well as distribution of C stock among biomass components and soil depths. A structural equation model was used to illustrate the impact of grazing on the soil carbon stock (SOC). The results showed that the Shannon–Wiener diversity index and richness index of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and communities first significantly increased and then decreased with increasing grazing intensity, reaching maxima at the LG site. The aboveground and belowground and litter biomass of understory herbaceous plants, shrubs and communities decreased with increasing grazing intensity, reaching maxima at the EX site. The aboveground and belowground biomass C storage decreased with increasing grazing intensity, reaching maxima at the EX site. The SOC stock and total ecosystem C stock decreased with increasing grazing intensity, reaching maxima at the EX and LG sites. A structural equation model showed that grazing-induced changes in the belowground biomass of understory herbaceous plants greatly contributed to the SOC stock decrease. Thus, considering the utilization and renewal of grassland resources, as well as local economic benefits and ecological effects, LG may be a more rational grazing intensity for species diversity conservation and ecosystem C sequestration in alpine shrubland. Our results provide new insights for incorporating grazing intensity into shrub ecosystem C stock and optimizing grazing management and grassland ecosystem C management.

Relationship between parameters of public parks and their surroundings and the richness, diversity and species composition of vascular herbaceous plants on the example of Krakow in Central Europe

Greenery is a natural value in urban space. To maintain the richness and diversity of greenery, it is necessary to understand the factors and mechanisms that influence vegetation. The purpose of this paper was to determine the impact of selected features of public parks and factors on the richness and diversity of herbaceous plants. In Krakow public parks, this richness and diversity is greater in parks with a larger area and habitat heterogeneity, the presence of migration corridors, and natural elements. Full stand coverage negatively affects diversity. Biologically inactive surface affects richness and diversity as well as a number of different groups of plant species. The presence of rare and non-synanthropic species is related to the park’s surface, natural elements, and its heterogeneity.

Autochthonous vitamin-bearing plants of the Kiev Plateau

Aim. To compile and analyze an annotated list of autochthonous vitamin-bearing plant species of the Kiev Plateau, which according to ethnobotanical traditions are often used by the population of this region. Methods. The research was carried out in 2002–2021 in natural phytocoenoses of the Kyiv Plateau and artificial phytocoenoses of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG). Research methods are field and cameral. Dozens of locals were surveyed to find out which autochthonous vitamin-bearing plant species are most commonly used by the region's population. Latin names of plants are given according to the generally accepted taxonomy (Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk, 1999). A linear system (Golubev, 1972) was used for biomorphological analysis. The classification scheme of florocoenotypes (Kamelin, 1973) was used for ecologo-coenotic analysis. Results. An annotated list of autochthonous vitamin-bearing plant species of the Kyiv Plateau, which is frequently used by the population of the region, is given. The spectrum of families, biomorphological and ecologo-coenotic spectra, and priority of use of certain parts of plants are analyzed. Conclusions. The annotated list describes 43 species of plants belonging to 36 genera and 21 families. Rosaceae (26%) has the largest share in the spectrum of families. The biomorphological spectrum is dominated by herbaceous plants (61%), namely, herbaceous polycarpics (49%). In the ecologo-cenotic spectrum, the largest share is occupied by species of forest (42%) and meadow (33%) florocoenotypes. For practical use, the population of the region most often collects aboveground parts of plants, in particular, aboveground shoots (46%) or aboveground shoots and fruits (33%). All plant species listed in the annotated list are presented ex situ in the NBG. More than half of them (65.1%) are exhibited on the botanical-geographical plot “Steppes of Ukraine” of the NBG.

The comparative yield of large-herb plants when growing in the Middle Urals

The purpose of the research is to isolate species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants that are promising for the tasks of accelerating the sequestration of atmospheric carbon, resistant to local soil and climatic conditions and having high productivity from the collection fund of the botanical garden of the Ural Federal University. Methods. The article presents data on the productivity of four types of herbaceous plants: Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthus cruentus L., Polygonum weyrichii F. Schmidt and Echinops sphaerocephalus L., grown in the botanical garden. All the research objects were grown under the same conditions. Productivity was measured at the beginning of September. The data were processed using standard statistical methods. Results. It was revealed that the plants P. weyrichii is the most productive in terms of both fresh and dry yield. The yield of the P. weyrichii increases in years with sufficiently high moisture content. Aridity and high summer temperatures have a negative impact on the growth of the P. weyrichii. Amaranths gain a large aboveground mass due to their belonging to the group with the C4 type of photosynthesis. High summer temperatures have a positive effect on the growth and development of amaranths, while correlations with the amount of precipitation are statistically insignificant. The plants E. sphaerocephalus showed average values for productivity and requires further study. It is recommended to grow the plants P. weyrichii in a sufficiently humid area. Amaranth, being a drought-resistant plant, is highly productive in any years, especially in years with the value of the hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) less than 1.0. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the features of the cultivation of the studied crops are considered not only for forage purposes but also from the point of view of atmospheric carbon deposition and cultivation on potential carbon farms in the changing climate of the region.

Orchids as Valuable Folklore Medicine: A Review

The impetus of writing this paper is to review various medicinal orchid species growing in different parts of India. The family orchidaceae is one of the diverse groups among angiosperms which includes different types of orchid species. This paper is written to review the medicinal and therapeutic importance and use of different orchid species for treatment of various types of diseases. Orchids are herbaceous plants which are mentioned in ancient ayurvedic system of medicine because of their therapeutic properties. Most of the medicinal orchid species are epiphytic and terrestrial in habitat.

Jatropha integerrima, Duranta erecta and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as Potential Lead Absorbent from Polluted Air in Dense Traffic Area

Lead (Pb) is one of the contaminants found in polluted air, especially in the area with dense traffic. Herbaceous plants are potentially used to reduce the Pb content in the polluted air. This study was designed to evaluate the potential of several plants, such as Jatropha integerrima, Duranta erecta and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, as Pb absorbents from polluted air based on Pb accumulation and chlorophyll levels. The lead content was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), while the chlorophyll content was tested using spectrophotometers at wavelengths of 649 nm and 665 nm. Results showed that the three plant species had potential as Pb absorbents from the air. The highest lead content was found from J. integerrima at 1.293 mg/kg, followed by H. rosa-sinensis at 1.232 mg/kg and D. erecta at 0.840 mg/kg. On the other hand, the highest level of leaf chlorophyll content was H. rosa-sinensis at 16.116 mg/kg, followed by D. erecta L. at 12.594 mg/kg and J. integerrima Jacq. of 10.297 mg/kg. No correlation was found between the Pb level and chlorophyll content of the three plants. It can be concluded that the three herbaceous plants have potential as Pb absorbents in the polluted air.