Magnesite production aerotechnogenic emissions impact on the elevated phytomass Betula pendula Roth depending on soil fertility

Abstract

The study of the test crop European birch elevated phytomass at the magnesite production impact zone (the Southern Urals, Satka) was carried out. Two plots of test crops of the same age (created in 1983) growing 3 km away from the source of technogenic pollution from magnesite production and with different soil fertility were studied. The elevated phytomass of the stand was calculated using sample trees. The selection of trees was carried out from different thickness levels within the entire range. A regression method was used to estimate the phytomass of the stand. In the course of our work, we tested the null hypothesis that soil fertility is a significant factor for the adaptation of the Betula pendula Roth to pollution since it was noted that stands on rich soils have the best growth (height, diameter) and the vital condition of the stand. A comparative analysis of the elevated phytomass of test crops with the same level of pollution by magnesite production emissions, but growing on soils of different fertility, allowed us to assess the effect of the soil factor on the ability of the European birch to adapt to technogenic pollution. Under the conditions of magnesite production emissions, the elevated phytomass of experimental Betula pendula Roth crops growing on highly fertile soils is not reduced to the same extent as that of birch growing on low-fertile soils. Under the negative emissions impact, the mass of wood and branches of the Betula pendula Roth growing on highly fertile soils decreases to a smaller extent than the mass of other fractions. The wood and branches weight of the Betula pendula Roth growing on highly fertile soils is 3.8 and 3.0 times higher, respectively, and the weight of leaves and bark is 2.3 and 2.4 respectively, compared with test plot No. 5 on low-fertile soils.