Monitoring the state of woody plants in railway impact zone in the Kola Polar region

Abstract

The areas adjacent to the railway stations are part of the urban greening and are considered as a single space that meets the high-quality standards of the urban environment. Monitoring studies (2018-2021) were carried out on the state of native and introduced species of woody plants growing along the railway tracks in the forecourt territories of the cities of the Kola Arctic (Murmansk, Olenegorsk, Apatity, Polyarnye Zori, Kandalaksha) to identify resistant species to this type of pollution. The assessment of the state of woody plants was carried out visually according to the method of V.S. Nikolaevsky and H.G. Yakubov. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics were given for each plant. The average score of the state for the most common tree species was calculated. Some agrochemical soil indicators have been determined. As a result of monitoring studies of green spaces, a slight increase in species diversity was revealed (22 species - 2 018, 24 species - 2 021). The state of woody plants in the railway impact zone depended on level of anthropogenic loads, age of plantations, and regularity of care. A slight increase in the share of the category of plants without signs of weakening was noted, with a significant increase in the category highly weakened (from 31.0 to 51.7 %). The indicator for the categories shrinking and dead wood has changed slightly. The weighted average score of the state of the most common tree species showed no pronounced changes. The nutritional status of soils was characterized by a low level of availability of nitrogenous compounds, changes in soil acidity were found. With regular care, plants can move from one category to another. Existing species of woody plants are stable in these environmental conditions and can be recommended for landscaping objects of this purpose.

Keywords

• state of the plants
• woody plants
• railway station areas
• kola polar region
• green spaces