Life condition evaluation of tree plantings under urban environmental conditions

Kornienko V. O., Prikhodko S. A., Yaitsky A. S.

The work presents research findings on the influence of technogenic pressure (transport exhaust gases, industrial emissions, and high vibration-acoustic noise background) on tree viability in urban environments. It was noted that the average monthly content of toxic substances (nitrogen dioxide, phenol, formaldehyde, ammonia) in the atmospheric air of Donetsk was exceeded by 30–40%. Also, these substances have a summation effect, as a result of their values exceeding 1, which indicates an unsatisfactory state of the natural environment. For soils in the zone of influence of major highways, the maximum permissible concentration for heavy metals is on average 40%. The determination of vibration-acoustic noise in the studied plantings showed an excess of threshold limit value and permissible exposure limit, which may affect the longevity of green plantings, but the trees effectively reduce the level of acoustic noise. Data of the health condition analysis show the tree plantations in urbanized areas have shorter life spans and worse morphometric characters compared to the same plantings in background conditions. Notably, for most tree species introduced in plantings the age of 50 years is critical. It enables us to prognosticate the introduction success of certain species in urban landscaping.

Keywords:urban environments; technogenic pressure; technogenic air pollution; condition of tree plantings; critical age; viability; tree species range.