Anatomycal, morphological and biochemical features of Pinus sibirica needles on recultivated and non-recultivated ash dump sites in the Middle Urals

Abstract

The article presents the results of anatomical, morphological and biochemical study of Pinus sibirica Du Tour needles of fly ash dumps and natural habitats in the Middle Urals. The study has shown that there was an increase in the area of resin ducts, as well as a decrease in the total nitrogen content in the needles of P. sibirica on ash dumps, compared with control habitats. An increase in the content of phenols and proline in the needles which indicates a response to stress, was also observed on the nonrecultivated ash dump unlike natural forest phytocenoses and recultivated ash dump. The revealed changes in the studied characteristics of P. sibirica needles are associated with the specific physico-chemical parameters of the technogenic substrate: an alkaline reaction of the medium as well as low content of clay particles and total nitrogen. Recultivation measures, namely covering the ash with strips of clay soil, contributed to the improvement of substrate parameters and the creation of more favorable conditions for plant growth.