PLANT ADAPTATION TO ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS - 2017

5. FUNCTIONS OF GREEN SPACES IN AN ANTHROPOGENICALLY TRANSFORMED ENVIRONMENT

5.4. Principles of creating and maintaining cultivated phytocenoses in industrial enterprise areas under steppe conditions

One of the most critical ecological challenges is The Development of scientific principles for landscape restoration, which is inextricably linked to plant Introduction and the modeling of sustainable phytocenoses under conditions of organic and inorganic pollutant exposure. In our view, solving this problem is only possible by preserving remnants of natural vegetation in these areas and subsequently greening them. This issue is particularly relevant in the steppe Prydniprovya, where severe disruptions of natural ecosystems occur against the Background of an arid climate (Likhotat, 1999). Heavy metals have become the priority pollutants in industrialized regions in recent years. Such areas are characterized by soil "hotspots" where the concentrations of lead, zinc, cadmium, and certain other elements exceed the natural background by 2-7 times. High levels of these elements are detected not only on the territory of industrial enterprises but also at significant distances from them.

Technical measures play a decisive role in environmental remediation, ranging from Treatment facilities to the transition to zero-waste, closed-loop technological production processes. The imperfection of industrial pollutant neutralization systems necessitates The Use of green plants as universal natural filters for supplementary environmental cleanup, among which grasses and, particularly, sod-forming cereals play a significant role.

The floristic environment acquires special importance in The formation of vegetation in primary technogenic ecotones, particularly the presence of contacts with local floras capable of invading technogenic areas and withstanding ecotopic Selection in an industrial environment due to synanthropic, cosmopolitan, and adventive elements of phytocenoses. According to recent studies, the urban flora of Southeastern Ukraine comprises 350-400 species, accounting for 1/6 of the region's flora. Adventive plants are represented by 41 species.

Environmental changes in technogenic areas are so profound that spontaneous overgrowth and plant survival are highly problematic. The plants that do manage to withstand such conditions look miserable. In turn, the decline in the biological productivity of these species leads to the loss of such a factor as their ornamental value.

Thus, two main trends driven by anthropogenic changes have emerged in the Formation of Plant cover: on the one hand, the reduction of native vegetation and the formation of anthropogenic plant communities, and on the other hand, the desire to replace the displaced natural cover with cultivated phytocenoses created during the greening of technogenic territories, including herbaceous plants that provide a stable turf.

Accordingly, three distinct technologies should be distinguished and implemented in forming the turf cover of technogenic territories:

1. Renewal or complete reconstruction of the soil cover of a specific site. This involves removing the top 20-30 cm layer due to its complete unsuitability for growing a full-fledged turf cover.

2. Radical improvement of the soil cover by removing mechanical impurities of industrial origin, applying green manure, fertilizers, drainage, irrigation, and the like.

3. Superficial improvement of the soil cover in cases where replacement of its top layer is not required.

4. Establishment of turf cover based on existing natural phytocenoses with targeted adjustment of natural successions to enhance The Role of available high-quality sod-forming populations.

The use of sod-forming plants, which are characterized by high Gas resistance and ornamental value while effectively performing sanitary-hygienic, aesthetic, and soil-protecting Functions, to optimize the industrial environment is entirely justified. As we have demonstrated, the state of both natural and artificial ecosystems can be assessed using anatomical-morphological and physiological-biochemical indicators.

The theoretical basis for restoring vegetation on disturbed lands is the biogeocenotic approach, which assumes The Unity of all ecosystem components. Previous studies involve a comprehensive study of relict zonal steppe vegetation, predominantly sod grasses, or a variant of anthropogenic selectogenesis: artificially created phytocenoses in technogenic territories.

The primary role in landscaping the zone of maximum pollution is assigned to lawns, which improve the environment even under conditions of elevated toxicant concentrations. Given the specific dispersion patterns of toxic substances from major pollution sources when creating a phytofilter, the soil microrelief must be taken into account as a factor influencing moisture and light distribution, etc. The turf cover should consist of gas-resistant grass assortments. Due to profound destructive Changes in the communities of steppe sod-grass formations, especially in the immediate vicinity of emission sources, we consider it advisable during the Initial Stages of vegetation cover formation to use components atypical for the steppe, including those with low ornamental value, such as Elytrigia repens and Cynodon dactylon. The Second Stage involves the gradual replacement of rhizomatous plants with sod-forming grasses, such as Poa angustifolia and Festuca rubra.

The durability of the functional capacity of the turf cover is greater the closer the ecological regime of the turf-forming plant species is to the specific site being turfed. With a complete coincidence of these regimes, unlimited longevity of the turf is possible. The realization of the latter situation became possible As a result of our experimental Study of the plant assortment and our development of an ecological typology of turfing objects, based on the relevant developments

by O. L. Belgard. Since moisture is the limiting factor for plant activity in the steppe zone, priority must be given to the Water regime of a specific site. Therefore, on the summits and upper parts of southern-exposed dumps, one can use, for example, Agropyron pectinatum and Festuca rupicola. In the middle part of the slope, Poa angustifolia should be added to these species, and Festuca valesiaca in the lower part. On slopes of northern exposure, especially in the lower half, due to improved moisture conditions, species with relatively higher water requirements can be used: Festuca rubra, Festuca pratensis, Poa pratensis, etc.

Periodic mowing is carried out to give the lawn an ornamental appearance and prevent fire hazards as the lawn ages. Along with the removal of green biomass saturated with emission ingredients, the absorption surface is restored, which helps increase the accumulating capacity of the lawn. This measure is also important for weed control. Based on the fact that "turf" is primarily the upper soil horizon—along with the near-surface grass stand layer—penetrated and bound by numerous plant elements (primarily roots) capable of maintaining the integrity of a cut sod piece, research on artificial phytocenoses has shown that it is precisely through the fullest utilization of this spatial portion in the underground and aboveground spheres, when "turfing" is formed, especially "dense turf" and The phenomenon of "continuous contact... between shoots," that "cenopopulations are able to create a regime of closure that restrains or displaces competitors." This pattern was proven both for lawn-type grass stands in a field experiment in the absence of industrial pollution by L. P. Mytsyk and by us under its conditions at a by-product coke plant using Setaria glauca, a representative of the tropical regions of Asia, as an example. In Variants of the sown grass stand of red fescue (Festuca rubra) with an initial feeding area per individual of 1 cm² or less In the second year of lawn existence, seedlings of Setaria glauca did not appear at all. In variants with initial feeding areas of 3 and 6 cm², Setaria glauca seedlings appeared but were suppressed and in significantly smaller numbers compared to unsown plots—5 and 3 times less, respectively (difference 5, significant at α ≥ 0.001).

We have created a landscaping system in the moderate pollution zone taking into account its functional features. At these enterprises, these are the territories of workshops, storage facilities with A large number of special-purpose areas, railway and automobile driveways, and a branched utility network. The reduction of industrial emission concentrations in the low-pollution zone made it possible to use more diverse means of landscape design using plants that differ in gas resistance. Preference is given to species that not only function successfully as oxygen producers but also possess high gas-absorption capacity and ornamental value. The main element in territory design is micro-group plantings of trees and shrubs, both single-species (Betula pendula, Salix alba, Forsythia suspensa, Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Populus bolleana, etc.) and mixed. Picea pungens, Juniperus sabina, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Lonicera tatarica, Forsythia suspensa, and others are the most promising in groups.

By-product coke production is one of the most toxic industries in the steppe Prydniprovya. Air pollution on the territory of these enterprises exceeds permissible limits by tens of times. Our studies at industrial sites have shown that in the zone of the highest toxicant impact (up to 0.2 km from coke batteries), only an extremely limited number of plant species survive: Elytrigia repens, Echinochloa crusgalli, Setaria glauca, and a few others. In these and similar areas with severe air pollution, K. M. Yakovlevas-Mateckis recommends creating covers made of asphalt, dark-colored concrete, and other Materials that heat up significantly more than lawns and generate warm air currents that simultaneously lift gaseous substances upward and carry them into higher atmospheric layers.

Among the perennial grasses we used for landscaping these areas, only Festuca rubra, Poa angustifolia, and Elytrigia repens (a secondary lawn grass) proved to be the most resilient under irrigation. Flower and ornamental plants planted by us in open ground died shortly after planting. This effect resembles the action of high doses of 2,4-D amine salt-type herbicides.

Lawn mixtures consisting of several grass species proved to be the most effective phytofilters:

1) red fescue - 70 %, perennial ryegrass - 30 %;

2) red fescue - 40 %, perennial ryegrass - 30 %, creeping couch grass - 30 %;

3) red fescue - 30 %, perennial ryegrass - 30 %, narrow-leaved bluegrass - 40 %;

4) red fescue - 50 %, narrow-leaved bluegrass - 50 %.

Positive results were obtained from single-species sowings of Festuca rubra. Flower beds in front of workshops are recommended to be created exclusively using annual plants. Among the studied assortment, Tagetes erecta is best suited for this purpose. Its high resistance to pollutants and prolonged flowering (from June until frost) make this plant indispensable. In case of toxic damage, the plants can be easily replaced (transplanted at any age).

The Central Plant Laboratory (CPL) is located within the zone of moderate pollution (0.2–0.8 km from emission sources). The landscaping in this zone relies primarily on lawns and tree plantings (Acer platanoides) along the streets. Shrub groups (Spiraea Vanhouttei) are arranged deeper within the area. In front of the laboratory facade, we established flower beds featuring Cineraria maritima, Tagetes erecta, and Gazania splendens.

It is considered entirely appropriate to intensively introduce turf-forming plant species in industrial areas—not only in the immediate vicinity of emission sources on severely disturbed ecotopes, but also at a considerable distance from them, where the degree of destructive changes in the plant cover is significantly lower. When landscaping the administrative and public zone, located in the low-pollution zone (0.8–1.2 km), perennial crops look best against the background of turf-forming grasses. Rose groups are particularly effective. A special ceremonial appearance is given to the area in early spring by Representatives of the genus Tulipa, and in summer by brightly flowering plants (e.g., Salvia splendens). The generally known assortment of ornamental flowering plants is supplemented here by Callistephus chinensis, Sedum album, Salvia splendens, Leucanthemum maximum, and Iris hibrida. Further away, representatives of the genera Hyacinthus and Hosta (under the canopy of trees) as well as Chlorophytum can be found. When designing flower beds near the security checkpoint in spring, preference is given to bulbous plants—hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips. Throughout the summer, hostas, marigolds, and salvias maintain the decorative appeal of the lawn. Sedums and cinerarias are used to accent the flowering plants. Until late autumn, Chrysanthemum coreanum and Leucanthemum maximum bloom on the site.

Thus, despite the extremely adverse ecological state of the environment near emission sources, There is a real opportunity to improve it through landscaping. The selection of plants can be based on the aforementioned zoning of the adjacent area. Only by taking this into account is it possible to compile a plant assortment that exhibits both resilience and satisfactory decorative qualities. To this end, while continuing further research, one can utilize the aforementioned list of cultivated herbaceous plants. The principles of establishing and maintaining cultivated phytocenoses in industrial areas were developed by us in detail earlier and are presented in the manual "Agrochemistry with the Basics of Agriculture".

We consider it appropriate to formulate the Basic principles of artificial restoration of resilient phytocenoses in industrial areas:

✵ Analysis of the specific pollution CHARACTERISTICS OF THE industrial site;

✵ Determination of the degree of environmental pollution;

✵ Assessment of the extent of damage to the plant cover;

✵ logical ratio of herbaceous and woody plants depending on the pollution level of industrial sites; planting only specific plant species composition that is resilient under the specified conditions;

✵ consideration of the decorative qualities of species; landscaping industrial sites with a preference for native species;

✵ utilization of the biological characteristics of plants to create the most optimal version of cultivated phytocenoses (e.g., determining The ratio of various plant groups in favor of annuals and biennials, which allows for easy replacement in case of damage).

If necessary, in areas with low soil moisture and altered agrochemical composition, it is advisable to use wild, resilient, and undemanding plants, such as Elytrigia repens and Poa angustifolia.

Based on the obtained results, measures for optimizing natural vegetation can be reduced to the following approaches:

1. Preservation of existing vegetation on the territory of industrial sites. This makes sense when its composition includes valuable, resilient, and decorative species that can serve as a source of planting material for the creation of artificial phytocenoses. This group should primarily include turf-grass plant communities. Possessing all the necessary traits required for species growing in industrial areas, representatives of this community not only form the turf cover but also serve as a source for the successional restoration of the plant cover as a whole.

2. Succession management. The most harmful plants growing among spontaneous vegetation are species that serve as sources of allergens (e.g., Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Studies have shown that the most effective method to significantly reduce the Abundance of or even eliminate unwanted species is mowing the grass stand twice.

3. Replacement of existing ruderal communities with cultivated ones. In cases where ruderal vegetation occupies a significant area, it is more expedient to create artificial vegetation through landscaping.

4. A comprehensive approach in creating environment-transforming cultivated phytocenoses. The optimal ratio of woody and herbaceous plants in artificial phytocenoses ensures high environment-cleaning capacity and The ability to create resilient, highly decorative artificial phytocenoses under conditions of elevated environmental contamination, based on a resilient turf cover.

Therefore, despite the extremely negative ecological state of the environment near emission sources, a genuine opportunity exists to improve it through landscaping measures.

Questions for independent study and self-assessment

1. What are the main functions performed by plants in an anthropogenically transformed environment? Provide a brief description of them.

2. What requirements are imposed on plants by various types of enterprises?

3. Into what classes of environmental hazard are industrial enterprises divided? What are the established sizes of sanitary protection zones for these classes of enterprises?

4. Provide a Description of the types of sanitary protection zones. How is landscaping implemented across Different types of SPZs?

5. How is plant selection carried out for landscaping industrially polluted areas?