THE USE OF CONIFEROUS PLANTS AS PHYTOREMEDIATORS OF TECHNOSOIL IN UKRAINIAN STEPPE

In the process of coal mining, particularly under conditions of operation of mines, significant disturbance and pollution of land occurs, being especially relevant for agricultural lands. Arboreous vegetation that grows in poly-elemental man-made anomalies conditions primarily serves as a mechanical barrier for aerogenic migration of metals. Soil and plant objects are involved in all processes of transformation and migration of substances occurring in the biosphere. The state of assimilation apparatus of arboreous plants can be used as an object of environmental monitoring, which is associated with assessment of their environment stabilizing role as a mediator of pollutants spreading into the environment. The purpose of this research was studying peculiarities of accumulation of elements of the heavy metals group in assimilation apparatus of coniferous tree species, which grow under conditions of mining rock

Foliage biomass qualitative indices of selected forest forming tree species in Ukrainian Steppe

Our study objective was research on the assimilation component of aboveground biomass of trees and its correlation with mensurational indices of trees (age, diameter and height) in stands of the main forest forming species in the Ukrainian Northern Steppe zone - Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) and Robinia pseudoacacia L. (Black locust). The research was carried out in forest stands subordinated to the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine. We used experimental data collected on sample plots established during years 2014-2016. The main research results prove that the foliage share in the tree greenery biomass structure had a wide range of values. For both investigated species, a positive correlation was found between the dry matter content in the tree foliage and the tree age, height and diameter. The foliage share in tree greenery biomass decreased with increasing mensurational index values. Correlation analysis revealed linear relationships between the mensurational indices and the discussed aboveground live biomass parameters. The closest correlation was observed between the stand age, mean stand diameter, mean stand height and dry matter content in the foliage

Basic density and crown parameters of forest forming species within Steppe zone in Ukraine

The parameters of wood density (WD), bark density (BD) and tree crown characteristics are not only important for estimation of the aboveground biomass, but they also serve as indicators for the timber quality. This study had two objectives: Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) – an introduced species; Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) – an aboriginal species. Black locust and Scots pine from the Steppe zone in Ukraine were compared in their WD and BD, and in the morphological parameters of their tree crowns. There were determined basic WD and BD for differently aged individuals of Black locust and Scots pine. Generally, a higher WD was found for Black locust trees. The average Black locust WD was 518 kg m−3, ranging from 375 kg m−3 to 612 kg m−3; with the average BD – 294 kg m−3, ranging from 214 kg m−3 to 421 kg m−3. The average Scots pine WD was 414 kg m−3, ranging from 254 to 491 kg m−3; with average BD – 317 kg m−3, ranging from 178 to 433 kg m−3. The dependences between WD, BD and biometric tree parameters were identified by correlation analysis. The crown diameter for Black locust and Scots pine was described with fixed prediction models. We proposed particular equations for relationships between foliage biomass and branch biomass, derived from the crown volume of the investigated species

The Impact of Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) on the State of Aesculus hippocastanum Photosynthetic Apparatus in the Urban Environment

The paper presents the results on resistance of Aesculus hippocastanum Linnaeus, 1753 trees to Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić, 1986 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) impact under conditions of a modern urban environment on the example of Dnipro city as the largest industrial city in Ukraine. Field experiments were conducted in all park areas of the city, which allowed covering the full gradient of the existing urban environment and considered the different degrees of the tree settlement by the invasive insect species. The research of the impact of C. ohridella caterpillars’ vital activity on the photosynthetic apparatus state was carried out by applying a chlorophyll fluorescence induction technique. Diagnosis of photosynthetic dysfunction of fresh Ae. hippocastanum leaves was conducted using a portable “Floratest” fluorometer manufactured in Ukraine. Interpretation of the obtained Kautsky curves showed that significant changes in their critical parameters associated with the degree of leaf damage by C. ohridella caterpillars were not detected. The influence of tree growth site conditions on the following 4 main indicators of chlorophyll fluorescence induction was established: the initial value of fluorescence induction after irradiation; the value of “plateau” fluorescence induction; the maximum value of fluorescence induction; the stationary value of fluorescence induction after light adaptation of the plant leaf. It was found that the efficiency coefficients of photochemical processes in Ae. hippocastanum trees growing in low terrain levels differed significantly, which can probably be interpreted as their response to the specific characteristics of the urban environment

The Impact of <i>Cameraria ohridella</i> (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) on the State of <i>Aesculus hippocastanum</i> Photosynthetic Apparatus in the Urban Environment

The paper presents the results on resistance of Aesculus hippocastanum Linnaeus, 1753 trees to Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić, 1986 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) impact under conditions of a modern urban environment on the example of Dnipro city as the largest industrial city in Ukraine. Field experiments were conducted in all park areas of the city, which allowed covering the full gradient of the existing urban environment and considered the different degrees of the tree settlement by the invasive insect species. The research of the impact of C. ohridella caterpillars’ vital activity on the photosynthetic apparatus state was carried out by applying a chlorophyll fluorescence induction technique. Diagnosis of photosynthetic dysfunction of fresh Ae. hippocastanum leaves was conducted using a portable “Floratest” fluorometer manufactured in Ukraine. Interpretation of the obtained Kautsky curves showed that significant changes in their critical parameters associated with the degree of leaf damage by C. ohridella caterpillars were not detected. The influence of tree growth site conditions on the following 4 main indicators of chlorophyll fluorescence induction was established: the initial value of fluorescence induction after irradiation; the value of “plateau” fluorescence induction; the maximum value of fluorescence induction; the stationary value of fluorescence induction after light adaptation of the plant leaf. It was found that the efficiency coefficients of photochemical processes in Ae. hippocastanum trees growing in low terrain levels differed significantly, which can probably be interpreted as their response to the specific characteristics of the urban environment

Remediation Potential of Forest Forming Tree Species Within Northern Steppe Reclamation Stands

The aim of the research was to study the features of accumulation of heavy metals by assimilation apparatus of coniferous and deciduous arboreous plants. The research identified excess of factual concentrations for Arsenic in mining rock in relation to values stated in IPC (indicative permissible concentrations). It is stated that the metals can be divided into three groups according to their absolute content in unit of foliage biomass. The element of excessive concentration is Mn, medium concentration is characteristic for Pb and Zn and low concentration is observed for Sb, Cr, As, Cu, Ni and Sn. Calculation of coefficient of biological accumulation of the metals under research has shown its high values for Crimean pine. The data presented for Black locust indicate low values of coefficient of biological accumulation, which is best noticeable for Chromium, Antimony and Tin. It is determined that a small amount of Sb and Sn are a subject to uptake by Black locust leaves, whilst for Crimean pine needles, Sb and As are characterised by the lowest inflow. The average content of lead is 209.11 kg·ha−1 for Crimean pine in all age groups of trees, whilst for Black locust, this index is only 15.52 kg·ha−1, which is 13.5 times less. Zinc accumulation is better performed by Black locust leaves, and it gradually decreases with increasing age. No definite trend of redistribution and subsequent accumulation of copper depending on tree species and age was found