Soil cover under Betula pendula Roth. Stands growing on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk region, Russia

The article presents results of the study on the influence of the while birch Betula pendula Roth. stands with varying crown cower (50%) on the properties of soils developing under these stands on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk hollow (so called Kuzbas region). The studied birch stands were located in two ecotopes, i.e. the northern and southern forest-steppe subzone at Kedrovsk (55°32`33``N 86°04`11``E) and Bungur (54°16`09``N 86°09`00``E) coal mines, respectively. The methodology of the study was based on the concept of plant phytogenic fields. The highest rate of soil organic matter and nutrients accumulation was found under sparse stands in both ecotopes. However, the southern ecotope, as compared to the northern one, was found to have higher organic mater and nutrients content irrespective of the birch stand density

Energy characteristics of self-healing process in metallized film capacitors

Metallized film capacitors widely used in energy applications were studied. The experimental method for investigation of energy and dynamic characteristics of self-healing processes in real metal-film capacitors was developed. The commercial PET and PP MFCs of 0.22 – 1 μF capacitance and 63–250 V voltage were tested. Depending on applied voltage, 3 types of SH processes in MFC were discovered: single, repetitive, and multiple SH. Dependencies of self-healing energy on breakdown voltage were obtained. These dependencies are described by power law with the exponent n = 2.2–2.4 that significantly differs from literature data. The obtained data will be used for degradation and aging laws formulation for capacitors’ energy storage capability improvement

Biogeocenosis development during initial revegetation of a coal combustion ash dump

The initial stage of biogeocenoses development on the coal ash dump produced by the thermal power staton in Novosibirsk (55.000, 83.068), Russia, were studied after 9 years of spontaneous revegetation. Soil properties, soil cover and plant communities were examined in detail. The predominating types of embryozems and transition from open to succession plant communities were described. Soil substrate moisture content was found to determine changes in plant species composition, projective cover and abundance, altogether causing asynchronicity of soil formation in different sites

Biogeocenosis development during initial revegetation of a coal combustion ash dump

The initial stage of biogeocenoses development on the coal ash dump produced by the thermal power staton in Novosibirsk (55.000, 83.068), Russia, were studied after 9 years of spontaneous revegetation. Soil properties, soil cover and plant communities were examined in detail. The predominating types of embryozems and transition from open to succession plant communities were described. Soil substrate moisture content was found to determine changes in plant species composition, projective cover and abundance, altogether causing asynchronicity of soil formation in different sites

Undisturbed Soil Pedon under Birch Forest: Characterization of Microbiome in Genetic Horizons

Vast areas of land in the forest-steppe of West Siberia are occupied by birch forests, the most common ecosystems there. However, currently, little is known about the microbiome composition in the underlying soil, especially along a sequence of soil genetic horizons. The study aimed at inventorying microbiome in genetic horizons of a typical Phaeozem under undisturbed birch forest in West Siberia. Bacteria and fungi were studied using 16S rRNA genes’ and ITS2 amplicon sequencing with Illumina MiSeq. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria together accounted for two-thirds of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) numbers and half of the sequences in each genetic horizon. Acidobacteria predominated in eluvial environments, whereas Proteobacteria, preferred topsoil. The fungal sequences were dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla. Basidiomycota was the most abundant in the topsoil, whereas Ascomycota increased down the soil profile. Thelephoraceae family was the most abundant in the A horizon, whereas the Pyronemataceae family dominants in the AEl horizon, ultimately prevailing in the subsoil. We conclude that soil genetic horizons shape distinct microbiomes, therefore soil horizontation should be accounted for while studying undisturbed soils. This study, representing the first description of bacterio- and mycobiomes in genetic horizons of the Phaeozem profile, provides a reference for future research