Strip clay application accelerates for 15–20 years the vegetation formation in ash dump (Middle Urals, Russia)

Abstract

As a result of a generalization of 45-year monitoring observations at on the ash dump of the Verkhniy Tagil Power Station, the absolute time scale was made, stabilization rates during succession of different plant communities characteristics were assessed in two areas: recultivated and non-recultivated. Recultivation consisted of clay strips applying (5–8 m wide, 10–15 cm thick) on ash surface. All characteristics of plant communities (total projective cover by plants, total number of species in plant community) are formed 15–20 years faster in recultivated area. So, a simple technical recultivation, (clay strips applying), significantly accelerates the formation of plant communities main characteristics on ash surface in subzone of the southern taiga in Middle Urals.