Effect of pyrogenic damage and haymaking on the growth and development of Amorphous shrub (Amorpha fruticosa L.)

Abstract

Active distribution and negative impact on natural ecosystems of Amorpha fruticosa leads to the search for ways to influence its population to limit their active distribution. Amorpha fruticosa plants damaged by fire and haymaking were studied to identify the reaction of this species to these factors action. The results of observations and analysis of morphometric data obtained during examination of separate amorphous individuals that have been damaged several times by spring fires, single or multiple haymaking are presented. The main purpose of this study is to identify the nature of this species reaction to the action of such methods of influence. Geobotanical descriptions and morphometric examination of separate models were carried out within the fire and haymaking loci of Amorpha fruticosa populations. All measurements were conducted after the total completion of this shrub growth processes. The obtained data became the material for analysis, comparison and generalization of the appropriate conclusions. Fragments of Amorpha fruticosa population damaged by low fire and haymaking with different reiteration recurrence were studied. Burning grass and haymaking in summer causes a break in flowering and fruit formation for one year and leads to a significant reduction in phytomass growth in populations of invasive species-transformer. In particular, the removal of the aerial parts of plants of this species during three years by mechanized hay mowing compared to the plants mowed in this way for one year resulted in a decrease in the number of leaves in the bushes by 10, the average number of leaves per shoot almost 2 times, the average shoot length 2.6 times and reducing the amount of shoot growth by 15 times. In the case of a single fire the average length of shoot growth after the fire decreased 1.4 times and the sum of shoot growth 1.5 times.