Lesnoy Zhurnal (Forestry Journal)

An Engineering Model of a Knife Roller for Thinning Forest Crops

Leonid D. Bukhtoyarov, Sergey V. Malyukov, Mikhail N. Lysych (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

To carry out the thinning of forest crops, it is necessary to use mechanized means, such as knife rollers. The review of scientific literature has shown that the lack of domestic knife rollers is a significant problem in artificial reforestation. The aim of this study has been to substantiate the technological parameters of knife rollers, considering their position relative to the soil surface, as well as the level of rigidity of the safety springs. To develop the parameters of new types of tools, it is necessary to use modern software that allows taking into account all the factors affecting the design. Using computer-aided design systems, a 3-dimensional solid model of a knife roller has been created, which has become the object of study. A review of modeling methods has shown that the most widely used approaches today are those based on numerical calculations. To perform the calculations, the Universal Mechanism 9.1 complex has been used, designed for modeling dynamic and kinematic processes in mechanical systems. Using the named software package, a virtual model of a knife roller has been created, taking into account the interaction of the machine links and the friction force of the roller upon contact with the ground. A computational experiment has been conducted to establish the kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the roller at different levels of rigidity of the safety springs and a change in the height of the hitch installation relative to the soil surface. Parameters such as the trajectory of the hitch movement, the tractor traction force, and the forces arising during the interaction of the roller with the soil have been determined. Based on the developed parameters, a prototype of a knife roller has been manufactured, which has passed laboratory tests in a soil channel. In the course of experiments using strain gauge equipment, the traction forces required for the operation of the tool have been measured. The data obtained have confirmed the accuracy of the proposed simulation model and its efficiency for further design and practical application.

Thermal Decomposition of Pellets from a Mixture of Peat and Bark Waste

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

There are large peat deposits in the Arkhangelsk Region. According to the balance sheet data, there are 626 deposits, each of which has an area exceeding 10 ha. At the same time, the Arkhangelsk Region faces the problem of efficient energy utilization of secondary energy resources, such as wood waste and bark, generated at timber industry enterprises. Thermal analysis of pellets from a mixture of peat (80 %) and bark waste from pulp and paper production (20 %) has been performed on a synchronous thermal analyzer in an argon and air environment in the temperature range of 30–700 °С. Peat has been collected in the Mezensky District of the Arkhangelsk Region, and samples of bark waste have been collected from the bark feed line to the E-75-3.9-440 DFT and KM75-40M fluidized bed boiler units installed at TPP-3 of Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill. The pellets have been obtained in a pellet-press. The elemental composition of pellets has been studied using a spectrometer. The main ash- and slag-forming elements in the samples are silicon, aluminum, calcium and iron. The thermal analysis of pellets has been carried out on a synchronous thermal analyzer in an argon and air medium with a flow rate of 20 cm³/min. To observe the drying and thermal transformations of pellets, the curves of the decrease in mass and speed of this process in the studied samples of fuel pellets have been used. It has been shown that the release of volatile substances has occurred at temperatures from 170 to 430 °C. The resulting pellets are high-calorie and low-ash biofuel. The results of the research can be applied for theoretical substantiation of the production of fuels with high combustion heat and mechanical strength in order to increase the role of local biomass in the energy sector of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Improving the Efficiency of Using Plywood Production By-Products

Victor K. Lyubov (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

To use plywood production waste to generate energy ensuring the operation of the non-public limited liability company “SVEZA Ust-Izhora” a mini-heat-and-power plant with 2 Е-40-2.25-305ОP boilers and a turbine has been installed. A 2-stage ash clearing of combustion products has been provided. The 1st stage ensures the removal and return of coarse fractions to the vibrating grid. At the 2nd stage, the products pass through bag filters. An energy inspection of the boiler units has revealed that the gas cleaning system is the cause of their frequent shutdowns and starts, additional heat losses and a reduction in the equipment life cycle. In this regard, instead of bag filters, a dust and ash collection complex (KPZU-10×6×2) has been installed. However, the degree of solid particle capture by the complex has been no more than 80 %, ash has been observed sticking to the impeller of the smoke exhauster, which has caused and imbalance and a reduction in the life cycle of the smoke exhauster and the need to stop the boiler at least once a week. The aim of this article has been to establish the reasons for the increased emissions of solid particles and carbon monoxide, the limited period of operation of the boiler unit between cleanings, as well as the lack of the possibility of prompt removal of ash and slag to the landfill. A comprehensive analysis of the boiler unit operation has been carried out on the basis of the operational and environmental performance indicators of the boiler, thermal engineering and granulometric characteristics of samples of the combusted biofuel and the resulting focal residues, as well as their elemental composition and thermogravimetric characteristics for plywood chips. The modernization of the gas cleaning complex has ensured the functioning of the boiler with a nominal steam capacity and has reduced the number of its stops between cleanings by 7–21 times. However, the use of a boiler with a higher capacity has lead to an increase in the polydispersity of fly ash and the content of combustible substances in it, which has become one of the reasons for its smoldering in the collection container. Periodic switching on of the vibrating grid has resulted in significant instability of environmental indicators. A study of the polluting potential of plywood scrap ash has found it to be the most powerful polluting component in the combusted mixture. The study of thermal processes in plywood chips in air and inert environments has shown a noticeable influence of the presence of glue based on phenol-formaldehyde resin.

Temperature Characteristics of Pine Stems in the Northern Taiga Subzone

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The research has been carried out in the northern taiga in pine forests of different types in the Novodvinsk and Isakogorka forestries of the Arkhangelsk forestry district. All the studied pine forests are characterized as middle-aged, pure in composition or with a small admixture of spruce and birch. The aim of the research has been to determine the temperature of the internal tissues of the xylem, since despite the fact that woody plants are poikilothermic organisms, their temperature differs from that of the air. In each forest type, 45–50 registered trees have been selected for the study. To measure the temperature of the bark surface, a Testo 890-2 thermal imager has been used, meteorological factors near the trees have been determined using a MES-200 device, and the xylem temperature has been determined using a portable digital multimeter MY 64. It has been shown that the surface temperature of the stems and the xylem temperature differ significantly from the ambient air temperature. The temperature of the smooth bark in warm weather has turned out to be lower than the temperature of the crust (fissured bark) by 2 °С, or by 10 %. Thin trees have a crust temperature higher than thick trees by 1.5 °С, or 7 %. In sunny, cloudless weather, the bark surface temperature in blueberry and shrubby-sphagnum pine forests is higher than the air temperature: by 0.98 °С in blueberry pine forests and by 5.43 °С in shrubby-sphagnum pine forests. In cloudy weather, on the contrary, the air temperature exceeds the temperature of the surface of the needles. The xylem temperature at the root collar is always lower than at a height of 1.3 m. The differences are from 0.8 to 1.2 °С. Apparently, this is due to the temperature of the water that flows from the soil into the xylem. The xylem temperature increases during the growing season and reaches a maximum by the end of July, after which it decreases. The xylem temperature is always lower than the air temperature and depends on the age – in older trees the indicator is lower.

Experience of Stepwise Introduction of English Oak (Quercus robur L.) in Northern Latitudes

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The problem of enriching the dendroflora of green plantations in northern cities and their green zones with new species at the expense of introduced species is urgent. This problem can be solved by stepwise introduction, which is currently theoretically justified and has been repeatedly applied in practice. Climate warming makes it possible to consider nemoral dendroflora, in particular English oak, as promising for the European North. This species is highly decorative and has special ecosystem properties. In the southern taiga subzone, it occurs fragmentarily in floodplain forests, which has made it widespread in the landscaping of northern cities. It is the plantations of this species that should be considered primarily as a source of seed material. The aim of the study is to generalize the experience of stepwise introduction of English oak under the conditions of the northern agglomeration. The object of the study has become the city garden of Vologda, where at the beginning of the 20th century there has been a botanical garden with an exposition of broad-leaved forests. These plantations have been considered as the 1st stage of introduction. The 2nd stage has included plantations in the suburban green zone, created by seedlings created from seeds collected from trees of the city garden. The results of the comparative analysis have shown that the content of photosynthetic pigments, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of acorns of green zone trees are higher than those of city garden trees. It can be concluded that at both sites the plants retain their vital form and freeze slightly. The amount of photosynthetic pigments is within the normal range. The carotenoid content is at a high level, which ensures the resistance of trees to adverse climatic factors. The biometric parameters of the seeds correspond to the values typical for the natural growing conditions of the species. At the same time, it should be noted that according to some criteria, the trees in the green zone of the agglomeration are superior to those in the city limits. The high quality of the seed material allows us to recommend the use of green zone trees as mother trees. To obtain planting material, acorns of medium and large fractions should be used.

Characteristics of Local Anisotropy Fields of Paper Structure and Deformation Properties

Mariya M. Lysachenkova, Yakov V. Kazakov, Dmitry G. Chukhchin (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The results of a comparative assessment of the physical and mechanical characteristics of moisture-resistant packaging paper made of bleached softwood and hardwood pulp are presented. Non-destructive and destructive methods have been used to measure 60 g/m² paper samples measuring 120×120 mm, divided into squares of 15×15 mm. The fields of characteristics in local areas have been obtained. In addition to the thickness lookthrough heterogeneity, the parameters of the local degree of anisotropy and the angle of orientation of the fibers have been determined using non-destructive total internal reflection IR-spectroscopy. Physical and mechanical properties have been determined during tensile testing of short-length samples. It has been revealed that floccules and gullies in a sheet of paper, visually expressed in the heterogeneity of the lookthrough, make a decisive contribution to the presence of local heterogeneity of anisotropy and the variation in the deformation and strength characteristics of the paper. The variation in the lookthrough heterogeneity measured in individual sections exceeds 11 % with a thickness variation of no more than 3 %. The coefficient of variation of deformation characteristics is several times greater than the coefficient of variation for the sample thickness and depends on the deformation area in which the parameters are measured. Analysis of experimental data and their statistical processing has made it possible to obtain a visual representation of the distribution of local characteristics of the structure, as well as deformation and strength properties. According to the distribution histograms and fields of local anisotropy of the structure and deformation properties of the paper, a very high variation in the structure parameters and the predominance of areas with reduced anisotropy compared to areas with high anisotropy have been established. A correspondence has been found between the fields of local strength characteristics: maximum strength, elongation to maximum load, and fracture work. It has been shown that the variation of mechanical characteristics increases with the transition from the elastic deformation zone and is maximum for parameters that integrally describe deformation and strength properties, such as fracture work.

Purification of Liquid Radioactive Waste with Activated Carbon from Sludge-Lignin

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

In this article, the authors have carried out a study of the synthesis of carbon sorbents from sludge-lignin by thermochemical activation and determination of their adsorption properties. Sludge-lignin is a large-tonnage waste generated during coagulation treatment of wastewater from pulp and paper mills. The promising development of technological solutions for waste disposal is complicated by the complex chemical composition of the sludge and the lack of practical demand for potential products that can be obtained as a result of its processing. One of the possible areas of use of by-products of processing is the synthesis of activated sorbents for wastewater treatment from heavy metals and radionuclides. To study the effect of independent parameters on the adsorption properties of activated carbons, an experiment has been conducted using a second-order rotatable central composite design. Based on experimental data, regression equations for the adsorption activity of iodine and methylene blue have been derived. The porous structure of the coal surface has been analysed using the ASAP 2020 MR automated system. The pore volumes of the activated sorbents from sludge-lingin have been determined using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda methods. During the experiment, optimal pyrolisis conditions have been identified: pyrolysis temperature 700 °C, pyrolysis duration 60 min and the activating agent dosage 180 %. This mode is economically advantageous for the formation of high-performance carbon sorbents due to the low consumption of alkali compared to other types of lignin. The authors have studied sorbents obtained under optimal conditions. The sorption properties have been analyzed by the spectrometric method with respect to various radionuclides (cesium, cobalt, strontium, etc.). Energy spectra have been constructed using the SpectraLine GP (Gamma Precision) software package, and the initial and final activity of radionuclides has been calculated. It has been determined that carbon sorbents obtained from sludge-lingin by thermochemical activation can be used for the selective extraction of certain radionuclides with an efficiency of up to 94 %.

Long-Term Testing of Aspen Clones in European Russia

Vadim A. Tsarev, Anatoly P. Tsarev, Raisa P. Tsareva, Natal’ya V. Laur (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The results of 40 years of testing of more than 20 aspen clones selected in various regions of European Russia and the USSR, growing in the Semiluki Tremuletum in the Voronezh Region, are presented. The survival of plants, growth in height, diameter and volume of the stem are shown. A ranked assessment has been given and a selection of promising clones for the creation of highly productive aspen plantations has been carried out. It has also been noted that sexual dimorphism can have different effects on aspen rot resistance in different growing conditions. The testing has been conducted at the Central Research Institute of Forest Genetics and Breeding (currently the All-Russian Research Institute of Forest Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology). A number of employees of the Institute have been engaged in the selection of the best forms, and then in hybridization, since its organization in 1971. The aim of this study has been to investigate the survival and growth of 21 long-lived aspen clones, as well as their productivity (in terms of stem volume), growing in the Semiluki Tremuletum of the Voronezh Region. It has been revealed that the height variation at the age of 40 has been quite wide – from 17.3 to 31.3 m, diameters – from 28.0 to 50.0 cm, stem volumes – from 0.3 to 2.4 m3. The top 5 has included 2 aspen clones from the Botanical Garden of the Voronezh State University (clones no. 16 and 17), 2 hybrids introduced from the Baltic States (clones no. 20, 23) and American aspen (clone no. 29). Their average height at the age of 40 has been 26–31 m, diameter – 42–50 cm, stem volume – 1.4–2.4 m3. This indicates the possibility of selecting promising aspen clones for their further propagation and introduction into plantation forest cultivation. At the same time, male clones (Pzg hybrid and American aspen clone no. 29), also introduced from the Baltic States, can be recommended for landscaping.

Synthetic and Natural Plant Growth Regulators for Growing Seedlings of Tree Species

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Technologies for growing planting stock with a closed root system, including a multi-rotation mode, are being actively introduced and improved. In the forest nurseries of the middle taiga subzone of the Russian Federation, its use is difficult due to the short growing season and, as a consequence, the insufficient adaptation of the 2nd rotation seedlings to the conditions of the winter season and their failure to reach standard sizes. One of the effective methods for improving plant growth and their adaptability to adverse environmental conditions is the use of growth stimulants. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the effect of such preparations on seed germination and the development of tree seedlings in order to optimize the growing regime. The aim of this article is to summarize and systematize the results of studies on the use of plant growth regulators in the cultivation of seedlings in forest nurseries. A classification of plant growth regulators has been given: synthetic ones based on various sources and biostimulants based on natural raw materials – acidic, microbiological and plant extracts. The latter include extracts of woody and herbaceous plants and marine algae. The composition of biologically active compounds in preparations from coniferous and deciduous foliage has been considered. The article presents information on the peculiarities and effectiveness of synthetic growth regulators and biostimulants on the development of seedlings and their survival rate when planted in a forest cultivation area. The characteristic features of the process of obtaining preparations from foliage have been presented, close attention has been paid to the presence of phytohormones in these preparations, depending on the time of selection of planting stock in daily dynamics. The use of synthetic growth regulators, as well as biostimulants, is a reliable way to improve seed germination and the growth of tree seedlings when grown in forest nurseries. The choice of growth regulators for specific purposes when preparing planting stock is based on experimental studies taking into account the plant species, economic feasibility, ecology, climate and raw material resources of the region.

The Influence of the Cuttings Propagation Timing on the Rooting Ability of Cuttings of Some Willow Species in the Norilsk Industrial District

Gennadij S. Varaksin, Natal’ya N. Cherbakova (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

To create willow plantations in the Norilsk Industrial District, it is necessary to use planting material from the most resistant to man-made impact local willow species (Salix lanata L., S. hastata L. and S. viminalis L.) using the cuttings method. Obtaining the best results of rooting cuttings in the open and covered ground in the conditions of the Norilsk Industrial District is possible if the optimal timing of their cutting is observed, which should coincide with the period of readiness of the shoots of the maternal plant to form roots, as well as when certain conditions are created for growing plants (temperature-humidity and lighting conditions, the presence of a nutrient soil mixture, treatment of cuttings with a rooting preparation). The timing of cuttings propagation is considered and determined taking into account weather conditions, phenophases of development of maternal plants and the influence of the listed factors on the rooting process. The optimal timing can be considered to be the periods starting from the moment of bud swelling and ending with the entry of maternal plants into the active growth phase (from the first 10 days of June till the first 10 days of July). Harvesting cuttings of species of the genus Salix at this time has contributed to the success of their rooting and survival. High rooting results in both types of ground have been recorded in 2023 for the species S. viminalis L. (51–87 %) and S. hastata L. (48–82 %) during the period of the beginning of leaf growth and intensive plant development; slightly lower, under the same conditions, have been the indicators for S. lanata L. (41–74 %). It is important to emphasize that for the studied willow species, no significant differences in the rooting process of cuttings have been identified. Analysis of the results of the rooting of cuttings of various willow species allows us to conclude that it is advisable to further use them as planting material in this natural area. The data obtained can serve as a basis for the development of a technology for growing willow cuttings in arctic conditions and be applied in the planning of reclamation and landscaping of urban facilities in the Norilsk Industrial District.

The Pigment Composition of the Needles of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco during its Introduction in the Conditions of Russia and Kazakhstan

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The pigment composition of the leaf apparatus of the Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco has been studied during its introduction to the territory of the Russian Federation (the Nizhny Novgorod Region) and the Republic of Kazakhstan (the Almaty Region). The relevance of the work is determined by the need to improve the range of urban green spaces. Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco is in high demand in this context. The object of the study has been its same-aged individuals of seed origin, planted in areas with coordinates 56°14'30'' N 43°57'16'' E (Russia) and 43°14'31'' N, 76°57'7'' E (Kazakhstan), thus the difference in geographical latitude has been 12°59'59'' N, and in longitude – 33°0'51'' E. The subject of the study has been the territorial variability of the content and ratio of plastid pigments of 1-year-old needles simultaneously sampled in the specified locations. The spectrophotometric method has been used in the work. The reaction of the pigment composition of the needles to changes in the growth conditions of introduced species in geographically separated areas has been established. The chlorophyll content varies and is higher in the Kazakh location than in the Russian one. The concentration of carotenoids has varied to a lesser extent, and in the Kazakh location (0.30±0.016 mg/g) it has been lower than in the Russian one (0.34±0.006 mg/g). One-way ANOVA has revealed a significant difference in the pigment composition of the needles of biota individuals. The coefficient of heritability in the Kazakh site has ranged from 32.50±13.50 % for the carotenoid content to 69.30±6.14 % for the proportion of chlorophyll-b in the total pigment composition; in the Russian site – from 40.64±11.87 % for the carotenoid content to 79.59±4.08 % for the ratio of the carotenoid content to the total chlorophyll content. Two-way ANOVA has confirmed the statistical significance of the differentiating effect of differences in forest growth conditions of the sites of settlement of introduced species on the formation of the general background of phenotypic dispersion of the pigment composition of their needles. The highest estimates of the indicated effect (85.25±0.37 %) have been achieved for the proportion of chlorophyll-b in the pigment composition, the lowest (9.19±2.27 %) – for the content of carotenoids. The influence of individual variability of individuals in each of the sites is less, and its estimates have more often not been statistically confirmed: from 4.61±9.54 % (the proportion of chlorophyll-a in the total pigment composition) to 27.83±7.22 % (the content of chlorophyll-a). Changes in the growth conditions of biota individuals associated with their placement in different areas have caused a decrease in the concentration of chlorophylls and an increase in the content of carotenoids in their needles in the Russian location.

Adaptation to Soil Conditions of in vitro Regenerated Birch Lines Selected for Salinity Resistance

Olga S. Mashkina, Tat’yana M. Tabatskaya (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Tissue and cellular plant in vitro breeding is a promising trend that complements and accelerates traditional breeding. Stress modelling under strictly controlled conditions on selective media allows for selection based on resistance to negative environmental factors (including drought and salinity), and preserving and cloning in vitro of selected variants with the desired traits. For forest woody plants, issues related to the adaptation of tolerant genotypes to ex vitro conditions have not been sufficiently studied. This research examines the adaptation features to non-sterile soil conditions of 3 birch lines: downy birch, Karelian birch and Ornäs birch selected through in vitro culture for resistance to salinity (NaCl and Cd(NO₃)₂). The survival rate, growth and development of plants have been evaluated depending on age, substrate composition and adaptation patterns. It has been revealed that for birch regenerants to successfully survive in soil conditions, their preparation for this stage should begin at the stage of micropropagation. The expediency of using ½ MS nutrient medium without hormones to obtain regenerants with active spontaneous rhizogenesis, normal growth and development, without signs of somaclonal variability, balanced in size shoots and root system has been shown. The highest ex vitro survival rate (on average 97–99 %) has been obtained with a 2-stage plant adaptation scheme for plants: 14 days in laboratory conditions, then 14 days in a greenhouse (compared to 1-stage adaptation – 28 days in the laboratory), followed by planting in May in protected soil of a greenhouse. The preferred planting of 1-month-old regenerants 4.5–6 cm high in containers with a substrate of peat soil combined with perlite in a ratio of 3:1 has been shown. All 3 lines have shown active lateral root branching, with an average of 6–7 roots 1st-order roots and 18–29 2nd-order roots. Apparently, a lower short-term nighttime temperature in the greenhouse in spring compared to the daytime one stimulates the formation of a developed branched root system. This ensures a better supply of water and nutrients to plants, contributing to the full realization of their adaptive potential. After 1 to 2 years of further growing in a greenhouse, salinity-resistant seedlings have corresponded to the sizes of standard planting material, which can be used for protective afforestation and the creation of test crops.

Plantation and Wild Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos L. in the Southern White Sea Type Swamps

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Several varieties of swamp cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos L.) and hybrids bred by the Central European Forest Experimental Station (Kostroma) are being tested at the “Arkhangelsk Cranberry” plantation (Kholmogorsky District, Arkhangelsk Region). The aim of the study has been to compare the chemical composition and organoleptic properties of berries of different varieties grown on the plantation and wild ones. Berry samples were collected from the plantation and the neighbouring swamp (wild harvest) in the fall of 2020 and 2022 and stored in the freezer. The organoleptic properties have been assessed by the tasting method; berry size has been determined with 20 repetitions. To determine the moisture and ash content, as well as the amount of organic acids, generally accepted methods of analysis have been used; for the amount of ascorbic acid, the Tillmans method has been used. Spectroscopy of aqueous berry extracts has been carried out in the range of 200–800 nm. According to the results of visual evaluation of the berries and measurement of their size, the uniformity of the fruits of the 635-V hybrid and the Fomich variety has been noted. The moisture content of all samples has been almost the same – from 88.0 ± 0.2 to 90.0 ± 0.1 %. The ash content has been reduced, fluctuating from 1.09 ± 0.06 to 1.39 ± 0.12 % of a. d. v. The maximum amount of organic acids (25–26 % a. d. v.) has been found in the berries of the Fomich variety and the 635-V hybrid, the minimum – in wild berries (19–20 % of a. d. v.). In terms of ascorbic acid content, they surpass other wild plants and hybrids. The spectra of aqueous extracts of berries are uniform. The study of the characteristics of the berry composition allows us to consider the Fomich variety and the 635-V hybrid the most promising for therapeutic nutrition, beverage and confectionery production. Wild cranberries have a high score of organoleptic parameters, colour and aroma (smell), however, as a vitamin supplement they are less attractive than those grown in other regions. The results of the study of the composition and properties of berries allow us to recommend plantation cultivation of cranberries in the swamps of the Southern White Sea type due to its increased yield.

The Elemental Chemical Composition of Populus tremula in the Conditions of Technogenic Ecosystems of Kuzbass

Yulia V. Zagurskaya, Тatiana I. Siromlya (Author) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Populus tremula L. (aspen) is one of the widespread species of woody plants, which has not yet been sufficiently studied in both ecological and biogeochemical terms. It is known that Cd can accumulate in elevated quantities in the above-ground parts of aspen. This is especially important in connection with the interest in the integrated use of wood resources. The aim of this work has been a comparative study of the content of chemical elements in various organs of P. tremula undergrowth under technogenic effects on the phytocenosis. Using the method of atomic emission spectrometric analysis (for As and Hg – atomic absorption spectroscopy), we have analyzed the content of 30 chemical elements in the aboveground organs of young P. tremula plants from technogenically disturbed habitats of Kuzbass (south of Western Siberia), including on overgrown rock dumps pf coal pits. No relationship has been found between the content of ash or individual chemical elements and the type of ecotope disturbance. The total number of chemical elements increases from the bark to the leaf blade, i.e. as you move towards more physiologically active organs. The lowest ash content is typical for bark, it is higher for stems, while no dependence of ash content on age has been found, and the concentrations of Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, Ga, Mn, Na, Si and Ti have been statistically significantly different in the “clean” and “dusty” stems. In addition to the above elements, “dusty” petioles have contained more Ba, Be, La, Pb, Sc and Zr, and the leaf blades have also contained V, Y and Yb. A direct strong correlation has been established between the ash content and the content of the listed chemical elements: 0.64–0.87 for stems and 0.75–0.93 for petioles and leaves. The Cd level in leaves, petioles and some bark samples of P. tremula exceeds the maximum permissible concentration for herbal medicinal raw materials. The absence of a correlation between the content of this element and the dustiness of the samples indicates that high Cd concentrations in the aboveground organs are due to the species characteristics of P.tremula, namely its high translocation potential.

Adaptation Features of Kamchatka Bilberry (Vaccinium praestans Lamb.) Plants Grown in vitro

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Currently, the demand for berry products with high nutritional and medicinal value is increasing. To preserve biodiversity and industrial propagation, it is necessary to grow plants in vitro and create a gene bank. Kamchatka bilberry (Vaccinium praestans Lamb.) is one of the valuable and rare forest berry plants, which requires the improvement of accelerated propagation technologies for further cultivation. The aim of the study has been to investigate the adaptation features of in vitro propagated V. praestans plants under ex vitro conditions and in open ground. The objects of the study have been V. praestans plants (2 hybrid forms and 3 selected forms from natural populations) obtained by the in vitro method. Morphometric parameters of the regenerated plants have been taken into account under ex vitro conditions when grown on various substrates (high-moor peat; peat + river sand 3:1; peat + vermiculite 3:1; peat + perlite 3:1; peat + zeolite 3:1) treated with aqueous solutions of growth stimulants (Zircon 0.5 ml/l; Epin-extra 0.5 ml/l). When adapting ex vitro, the highest survival rates (90 %), number of shoots (3.8 pcs. on average) and number of leaves (5.1 pcs. on average) of the V. praestans regenerated plants on the 28th day after transplantation have been revealed on a substrate made of a mixture of peat and zeolite (3:1) when treated with Epin-extra 0.5 ml/l. For the first time, the morphometric parameters and yield dynamics of V. praestans plants obtained by clonal propagation have been studied in open ground conditions in the natural and climatic conditions of Moscow, the Kostroma Region and the Khabarovsk Territory. The maximum shoot length in 2022–2023 was recorded in hybrid form 235261 (7.0–7.4 cm on average). The highest yield of 2–5-year-old V. praestans plants in open ground conditions has been noted in hybrid forms (362.75–383.0 g/m² on average) and has varied depending on the growing area.