Formation of vegetation at a reclaimed clay quarry in the Middle Ural taiga forest area (on the example of a quarry in Yekaterinburg)

Abstract

The study of vegetation on disturbed lands is necessary to solve environmental problems and to restore the natural potential of such areas as soon as possible. The paper presents a taxation characterization of 15-30-year-old mixed stands of natural and artificial origin growing in a reclaimed clay quarry. Species composition, projective cover and aboveground phytomass in absolutely dry form of living ground cover were determined. Field data were collected using common methods: sample plots and survey plots. 39 species of living ground cover were recorded, which were classified into 13 families and 5 cenotypes. The data on the proportion distribution of species and aboveground phytomass of living ground cover by cenotypes, as well as on the ratio of projective cover and aboveground phytomass of living ground cover are presented. The degree of floristic composition commonality of the studied communities of herbaceous plants, determined by the Jaccard coefficient, is small (from 0.24 to 0.57). It was established that in the conditions of the research area at the reclaimed clay quarries, it is possible to form highly productive mixed plantations with predominance of coniferous species. At the study plots, the living ground cover is dominated by species from the families of legumes (Fabaceae), bluegrasses (Poaceae), and Asteraceae (Asteraceae). The dominant species in terms of projective cover at different plots are the following: red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Wigg.), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca L.), velvety bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.), smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis L.), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis L.), wood millet (Milium effusum L.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.), and wood vetch (Vicia sylvatica L.). Plants of meadow and forest-meadow cenotypes predominate under the canopy of the studied stands. The latter is an indication that the forest environment has not been formed in the study plots. During the biological stage of clay quarry reclamation in the conditions of the Middle Ural Taiga forest area, it is recommended to sow herbaceous plants from the families of legumes (Fabaceae) and bluegrass (Poaceae), which are the most widespread within the studied quarry.