Aboveground biomass and nutrient accumulation dynamics in young black alder, silver birch and Scots pine plantations on reclaimed oil shale mining areas in Estonia

The growth, aboveground biomass production and nutrient accumulation in black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations during 7 years after planting were investigated on reclaimed oil shale mining areas in Northeast Estonia with the aim to assess the suitability of the studied species for the reclamation of post-mining areas. The present study revealed changes in soil properties with increasing stand age. Soil pH and P concentration decreased and soil N concentration increased with stand age. The largest height and diameter of trees, aboveground biomass and current annual production occurred in the black alder stands. In the 7-year-old stands the aboveground biomass of black alder (2100 trees ha−1) was 2563 kg ha−1, in silver birch (1017 trees ha−1) and Scots pine (3042 trees ha−1) stands respective figures were 161 and 1899 kg ha−1. The largest amounts of N, P, K accumulated in the aboveground part were in black alder stands. In the 7th year, the amount of N accumulated in the aboveground biomass of black alder stand was 36.1 kg ha−1, the amounts of P and K were 3.0 and 8.8 kg ha−1, respectively. The larger amounts of nutrients in black alder plantations are related to the larger biomass of stands. The studied species used N and P with different efficiency for the production of a unit of biomass. Black alder and silver birch needed more N and P for biomass production, and Scots pine used nutrients most efficiently. The present study showed that during 7 years after planting, the survival and productivity of black alder were high. Therefore black alder is a promising tree species for the reclamation of oil shale post-mining areas.

Research highlights▶ Soil properties of post-mining area improved with stand age. ▶ The better survival, growth and largest biomass occurred in black alder stands. ▶ The largest amounts of nutrients accumulated in the aboveground biomass were in black alder stands. ▶ Deciduous trees needed more nutrients for biomass production; Scots pine used nutrients most efficiently. ▶ Black alder is a promising tree species for the reclamation of oil shale post-mining areas.