THE STRUCTURE OF THE GREEN PLANTATIONS IN BOGDAN KHMELNITSKY PARK AND PROSPECTS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT (KRYVYI RIH, DNIPROPETROVSK REGION)

Abstract

Introduction. Kryvyi Rih is located in the steppe zone of Ukraine and covers the area of 4.75 thousand km2; 94.9 % of this area being classified as anthropogenically transformed territories. In conditions of arid climate and significant technological pressure, very important aspect is to study the ways for optimization of urban plantations.Purpose. The aim of our work was to study tree plantations in the park named after B. Khmelnitsky (founded in 1935), which is one of the largest objects (42 hectares) in the landscaping system of Kryvyi Rih.Methods. Vital state of tree plants was defined according to the methods of L. S. Savelyeva, Z. I. Luchnik, V. T. Yarmishko. Biomophological analysis was conducted according to I. G. Serebryakov, and the distribution among the height classes was performed according to the methods of A. I. Kolesnikov. During the research, such features of tree plants as taxonomic composition, vital state, botanical and geographical as well as biomorphological analysis, distribution according to height classes and age structure were determined.Results. The modern dendroflora of the park is represented by 63 species, 2 hybrids and 10 cultivars, which belong to 46 genera, 26 families and 2 phylogenic groups (phyla). Among the the park plantations, the angiosperms (Magnoliophyta) prevail (92 %), representation of gymnosperms (Pinophyta) is limited (8 %). The largest taxonomic variety is typical of the families Rosaceae Juss. (21.3 %), Salicaceae Mirb. (12 %) and Aceraceae Juss. (10.6 %). Most species came from Circumboreal (33.2 %) and the Atlantic-North American (20.0 %) floristic regions. Prevailing height class is formed by trees of the first magnitude (56.7 %). Among the bushes, the most numerous group is the one of tall shrubs (81.8 %). According to the age structure, five groups were determined. The number of the oldest trees (over 80 years old) is 10 %. Most trees and shrubs have satisfactory vital state.Conclusion. Among the cultures already tested in Kryvyi Rih area, the representatives of families Aceraceae, Betulaceae Gray, Berberidaceae Purch, Fabaceae Lindl, Tiliaceae Juss., Oleaceae Hoffmanns et Link, Rosaceae are considered to be promising due to their ecological and biological characteristics. As to the coniferous plants, it can be recommended to update the range of green plantations of Kryvyi Rih at the expense of plants from genera Thuja Tourn., Juniperus L., Taxus L.