10.24411/1728-323X-2018-16098

Physical geography and biogeography, soil geography and landscape geochemistry

WOODY PLANTS AS NITROGEN FIXERS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINATION OF SOUTH YAKUTIA

1. A.A. Perk, Researcher, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,
2. P. I. Sobakin, Ph. D. (Biology), Dr. Habil., Leading Researcher, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBPC SB RAS), Yakutsk, Russia

The issue of phytomeliorants selection in the recultivation of the disturbed permafrost areas is of great interest. Therefore, special attention should be given to the plants that function as nitrogen fixers, for example, shrubby alder (Alnus crispa subsp. fruticosa). Previously, we found the actinorhizal nodules in two alder species growing in different floral regions of Yakutia. It has been observed that the alder grows extensively in the uranium deposit fields of South Yakutia, where the environment was polluted with radionuclides. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of soil pollution with radionuclides of different degrees (γ-background from 10 to 600 μr/h) on the formation of the alder nodules. The content of radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th) in the soil and plant samples was determined by gamma- and X-ray spectral methods. It was shown that alder has nodules even at the maximum level of γ-background (8—12 g of absolutely dry substance per plant), and the plants are characterized with high nitrogen content (2.3—3.1 % of absolutely dry substance). The results point to the need in more extensive use of woody nitrogen fixers plants for the rehabilitation of disturbed areas, including the areas with radioactive contamination in the conditions of cryolithozone.

Alnus crispa subsp. fruticosa, nitrogen fixers plants, actinorhizal nodules, radionuclide contamination, South Yakutia.

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