The Hydrological-Hydrochemical Factors that Control the Invasion of the Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) in Succession in Areas with Opencast Mines

Abstract

Studies on opencast mines have indicated that the spontaneous colonization of excavations and sedimentation tanks by vegetation is determined not only by the substratum and the land relief, but also by the hydrological and hydrochemical relations in the exploitation hollow. Sometimes, biological invasions can also disturb the natural revegetation. Robinia pseudoacacia L. black locust is an invasive alien species that frequently colonizes sandy habitats. Thirty study plots were randomly established on four types of sites: (1) sandy sediments, extremely dry places located mainly on heaps of post-washer slime; (2) sandy sediments, dry areas that are periodically flooded and have pulp; (3) clay sediments, damp areas that are periodically submerged, and (4) the control, a forest with R. pseudoacacia in its neighborhood. A total of 94 species of vascular plants and seven species of mosses were found. The vegetation at the sites differs and the role of the black locust increases along the dryness gradient and developmental phase of vegetation. Older phases of succession resemble a forest in the surrounding area. It is a R. pseudoacacia species-poor monodominant stand that has been forming for around 30 years. A lack of trees and dense grasses favor the successful invasion of the black locust on man-made sandy habitats.

The Properties of Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia L. to Selectively Accumulate Chemical Elements from Soils of Ecologically Transformed Areas

“…It is an invasive species that has come to Poland in the 18th century and quickly spread throughout the country [12]. Initially, this species originated from North America [14,15], but it is now considered one of the most common non-native plant species in Europe [14,[16][17][18]. Often, it grows as tall trees (up to 20 m) or thick shrubs [19], and it is a producer of a large amount of biomass for the environment [20][21][22].…”

“…It has been proven that R. pseudoacacia is important for the development of a better ecological surrounding [27]. Additionally, the plant litter of black locusts positively influences soil cover formation, as it enriches poor ecosystems of degraded areas in necessary micro and macro elements [12,18]. These components are mainly derived from the decaying plant litter of R. pseudoacacia.…”

Plant Species and Functional Diversity of Novel Forests Growing on Coal Mine Heaps Compared with Managed Coniferous and Deciduous Mixed Forests

“…During the early succession, B. pendula creates monospecific woodland stands, while dry sandy sites with low nutrition and the absence of competitors allow R. pseudoacacia to dominate [71,72]. Over time, R. pseudoacacia covered the brown coal mine heaps in Sokolov (Czech Republic) and B. pendula dominated the recent unreclaimed habitats [73].…”

Diverse Interactions: Root-Nodule Formation and Herb-Layer Composition in Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Stands

“…Currently, 24% of the Hungarian forest stands are covered by black locust, and these trees are also often planted in settlements [ 3 ]. The species can be successfully planted in a wide range of habitats, even on the disturbed, heavily polluted soils of urban or industrial areas, although its spread in flooded, oxygen-poor environments is highly constrained [ 4 , 5 ]. In forest ecosystems, the role of vegetative spread by its root suckers is more important, while propagation of its seeds in more open areas can also play a role [ 6 ].…”