Research of the growth and development of woody plants in radon-active territories of Karelia

Abstract

The influence of lithospheric gases on the growth and development of plants is studied. Using a number of areas in Karelia as an example, the weak (300-700 Bq/m3) and strong (6000-8000 Bq/m3) effects of radon on woody plants were analyzed. In areas with high radon activity, an increased frequency of structural anomalies of plant trunks, tumor-like growths, bark necrosis, cancerous diseases of fungal origin, and loss of immunity in plants at a young age are noted. Resistant species in such zones are alder and juniper. In zones of moderate radon activity, carbon dioxide fluxes from the soil surface and at different depths were measured, and the processes of growth and CO2 gas exchange of Scots pine shoots were studied. It has been shown that a CO2 flow of deep origin can increase pine growth by 15-20%.