STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PIONEER PLANT COMMUNITIES ON SPOIL TIPS OF THE CHERNOGORSKY OPENCAST COAL MINE IN THE REPUBLIC OF KHAKASSIA
Natalia V. Sheremet1, Olga S. Safronova2, Tatiana G. Lamanova1
1Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
2Research Institute of Agricultural Problems of Khakassia - branch of FITC KNC SB RAS, Republic of Khakassia, Russia
Keywords: opencast spoil tips, natural revegetation, pioneer plant communities, structure and productivity, Republic of Khakassia
Abstract
The article presents the results of observations for peculiarities in natural revegetation of opencast spoil tips in the arid zones of the Republic of Khakassia. Research into the structure and productivity of pioneer plant communities was conducted for five years on various elements of mesorelief of 10-year-old opencast spoil tips of Chernogorsky Coal Mine. The research shows that primary successions have a herbaceous type of vegetation. 24 species of vascular plants are present, 87 % of them are native. On dump slopes of different aspects dominating species are forbs ( Salsola collina , Sonchus arvensis , Teloxys aristata , Erysimum cheiranthoides etc.) or Poaceae ( Calamagrostis epigeios and Hordeum jubatum ). The vertical structure exibits a near-surface type of distribution; the herbage height is lower than in zonal communities. The productivity of pioneer communities (maximal values 0.7 ± 1.6 t/ha are observed on the plateau) is lower than that of aboriginal bunch grass steppes. The above-ground phytomass predominates over the under-ground phytomass in all parts of the study site. The plant communities after 10 years of revegetation remain in an initial stage of restoration and differ in the composition and structure from the zonal communities.
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