Plant species selection and biomass nutrient content on post-mine sites of the Kursk magnetic anomaly, Russia

Abstract

The article presents data on the assessment of the different tree and shrubs species for a reclamation of the hydraulic dump of the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, Russia. The purpose of the work is to identify highly productive tree and shrub species with the maximum content of nitrogen and ash elements in the biomass. The objects of research are protective plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia L., Caragana arborescens L., Betula pendula L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., Pínus sylvestris L., Populus balsamifera L. Under the influence of different type of vegetation, the fertility of the dump substrates increases and the initial substrates gradually turns into soil. The rate of formation of primary soils depends on the biomass of plantations and the content of chemical elements in it. The article analyzes data on the content of the main chemical elements in different parts of plants aged 8-9 years. Trees and shrubs are arranged in sequential rows in terms of nitrogen accumulation, ash elements and overall biological productivity. The authors identified sea-buckthorn and robinia pseudoacacia, which, already at a young age, are characterized by high productivity (146.2 and 118.0 dt/ha) and have a positive effect on the fertility of the dump substrates.

Natural vegetation communities on the iron ore dumpsites in Northern Kazakhstan

“…Studies in Kazakhstan's neighboring countries have found that vegetation on dumps naturally regenerates in a pattern similar to primary succession, which is the process of plant colonization on a previously unvegetated area. These studies provide valuable insights for post-mined reclamation in Kazakhstan (Shandala et al 2016;Belov et al 2020;Korniyenko et al 2020;Khismatullin et al 2021;Klimova et al 2021;Tchoroev 2021;Treschevskaya et al 2021;Edelev et al 2022;Henyk et al 2022;Chaplygina et al 2023).…”