ADAPTIVE MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WHITE WILLOW (SALIX ALBA L.) GROWING IN THE FLOODPLAIN OF THE BUKHTARMA RIVER IN THE KATON-KARAGAY STATE NATIONAL NATURAL PARK

Abstract

The article reviews the adaptive morphological responses of white willow (Salix alba L.) growing in the floodplain in the Katon-Karagay State National Natural Park (SNNP). In the Katon-Karagay SNNP, studies of forest ecosystems were conducted on sample plots with a total area of 5.9 hectares.

The first layer of the stand includes white willow (Salix alba L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula), with an average trunk diameter of 16.1 cm and an average height of 4.3 m. In this region, white willow is assessed as "healthy," with a relative vitality index (RVI) of 87.5%. The chlorophyll a content in the leaves ranges from 0.55 to 0.6 mg/g of wet weight, chlorophyll b from 0.11 to 0.14 mg/g, and carotenoids from 0.13 to 0.14 mg/g. Soil conditions are characterized by a high content of available nutrients in the A horizon: А: alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen 99.13 mg/kg, available phosphorus compounds 22.7 mg/kg, and exchangeable potassium 160.8 mg/kg. The soil environment is predominantly neutral pH 6.76, humus content in the upper horizon is 5,41 %. The research data confirm the high bioecological condition of the stands and soils in the Bukhtarma River floodplain, which is important for the continued monitoring and preservation of these ecosystems.