The influence of willow plantations and soil composition on the process of natural vegetation settlement at oil drilling sites in Western Siberia

Abstract

Test cultures of various willow species were created in 1997 on a technogenic sandy site of one of oil deposits (62°46’18.36" N, 72°09’48.69" E). Sixty-five isolated plots, including various soil substrates (sand, peat, drilling wastes), were placed in the testing area of 684 m2. Optimum combinations of substrate components were identified, and the tolerance of willow species to drilling wastes was revealed by the results of investigating 1-5-year cultures [1]. In 2016 we investigated the natural settlement of aborigine plants in this test plot. The willow cultures mortality was high according to short offspring vegetative lifetimes and the limitation of feed areas. However, willow cultures and soil reclamation stimulated a settlement of natural plant seedlings. The comparison of phytocenoses, which were formed in various experimental and "background" conditions, has allowed making some conclusions. 44 plant species are growing now in the experimental area. The least number of species is characteristic for pure sand and pure peat substrates, the greatest − for complex substrates with sand, peat and drilling wastes. Thus, the experimental willow cultures and partial soil reclamation accelerated the formation process of forest ecosystems that created a "plant oasis" on a deserted landscape of technogenic sand.