Forest Phytocenotic Changes in Impact Zone of Municipal Vilnius County (Lithuania) Waste Landfill

Abstract

More than 800 municipal waste landfills were in Lithuania until 2007, most of which were closed and in 2009 and rehabilitated. Currently, mixed municipal waste is deposited at 11 regional landfills equipped in accordance with international requirements. Investigations were carried out in the potential impact zones of 2 regional landfills (operating since 2007 and rehabilitated in 2009). The observations were carried out in 30 mixed spruce - deciduous stands (A = 65-72 m), growing 50 to 650 m from the landfill boundary. The impact of spruce on the phytocenosis next to both landfills was similar and negative (̴ 300-400 m). The most significant changes in the status of stand were observed up to 100 m, where the share of healthy trees was 25% (50 m) - 76% (100 m). The highest density of undergrowth and underbrush was in 100-200 m from the landfill, and their species composition was relatively poorer than in healthy stands. The most significant changes of grass cover were identified up to 50 m. There in the zone occurs 6 herbaceous plant species uncharacteristic for forest phytocenosis (Chenepodium album, Artemisia vulgaris, Rumex acetosa, Tussilago bugle, Plantago media, Medicago Falcata), and most of these plants reaches 0.5 to 0.75 m in height.