Some Features of Forest Stands Growth and Development on Distributed Lands of Novyj Rozdil Sulphur Quarry Dumps

Abstract

Intensive mining in the mid-twentieth century within Western Ukraine territory led to destruction of large areas of the ground, vegetation and soils. Such lands are marked by lack of fertile layer with dramatically altered topography and hydrological regime, worsening sanitary conditions of industrial areas and negatively affect on the ecological state of surrounding farmlands and other areas. Accelerating the process of natural regeneration of vegetation, giving it a certain direction, forming productive and sustainable biogeocenosis which are characterized by high aesthetics, conservation and economic value will allow solving current tasks. The authors have conducted the study of growth and development of forest stands on disturbed lands of dumps of Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry. Firstly, we have revealed that the most productive are poplar stands that showed the highest averages height and diameter, lower reserve of timber. They are characterized by mixed stands featuring black alder, cherry, ash and aspen and the least productivity reaches oak stands with little admixture of black alder and aspen. We have noted that black alder in elm stand is characterized by the highest impedance and the lowest capacitance values of polarization. Significantly lower impedance is in the sample oak plantation, cherry and elm plantation. Growth and development of tree species in analyzed forest stands significantly affects the physical-chemical and chemical properties of the soil, contributes to the reproduction of sois, organic matter accumulation, and supersedes acidity. Secondly, high humus content at the top soil layer is defined in the section of stand composition 6E1O1Ch1Al1Ac and on the section of stands 6O2Al2Os + 1W. Increased humus content is also observed in the top layer of soil on the section of stand composition 10P + Ch and average degree of humus is observed on the sections of stand composition 6A3Ch1As + A. Based on the research we have made the following conclusions. The highest productivity in the dumps of Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry is shown by poplar stands, a smaller timber stock has mixed stands featuring black alder, cherry, ash and aspen, and the least performance is characterized by oak stands with little admixture of black alder and aspen. Average degree of phosphorus provision is noted in the top (up to 0.10 cm) layer of the soil on section with ash-cherry-alder-oak stands. A very low level of availability of phosphorus in analyzed soil horizon is noted on section of poplar and elm stand.