Soil cover under Betula pendula Roth. Stands growing on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk region, Russia

Abstract

The article presents results of the study on the influence of the while birch Betula pendula Roth. stands with varying crown cower (<30, 31-50 and >50%) on the properties of soils developing under these stands on the coal mining spoils in the Kuznetsk hollow (so called Kuzbas region). The studied birch stands were located in two ecotopes, i.e. the northern and southern forest-steppe subzone at Kedrovsk (55°32`33``N 86°04`11``E) and Bungur (54°16`09``N 86°09`00``E) coal mines, respectively. The methodology of the study was based on the concept of plant phytogenic fields. The highest rate of soil organic matter and nutrients accumulation was found under sparse stands in both ecotopes. However, the southern ecotope, as compared to the northern one, was found to have higher organic mater and nutrients content irrespective of the birch stand density.