Edaphic factors affecting the vital condition of Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.) in Alupka Park

The staff of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens conducted a detailed soil and dendrological examination on the growth of southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L. ) in the Alupka Park. The objective of this work was to identify the main edaphic factors affecting the growth and development of Magnolia grandiflora L. The characteristic of the morphological description of the most typical soil sections laid on the territory of the park under M. grandiflora with different vital conditions is given. Under the plants, the soil is fully provided with humus and nutrients. The effect of carbonates on the growth and development of M. grandiflora has not been reliably established (r=-0.56; n=6). According to the content of fragments of dense rocks (clay shales, sandstones, less often limestones), soils in the meter layer are weakly, medium and strongly gravelly-gritly. In the surveyed areas, the compacted soil (>1.4 g/cм³) compacts even more with depth and becomes very dense with low porosity (less than 45%) in a layer of 80-100 cm. The granulometric composition of the fine-grained soil on brown soils is heterogeneous throughout the site and was characterized mainly as heavy loamy with a predominance of coarse and fine dust. Such soils are considered favorable in terms of granulometric composition for most woody and shrubby plants, including southern magnolia. Optimal edaphic conditions for the cultivation of southern magnolia on agro-brown soils of the Alupka Park have been identified. These are soils with a light clay granulometric composition, an addition density of up to 1.52 g/cм³ and a content of up to 25% CaCO₃. This characterizes its relative tolerance and high ecological valence to edaphic conditions in comparison with deciduous species of magnolias growing on the Southern coast of Crimea. A high level of agricultural technology is the main method of improving the vital condition of M. grandiflora. 

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