Effect of amorphous silica on the growth of seedlings (Pinus sylvestris L.) and (Picea obovata Ledeb.) in a reclaimed granite quarry

The restoration of technogenically-disturbed territories represents one of the most critical ecological and forestry challenges, particularly in regions with a high degree of anthropogenic impact, such as the Ural region. This study ex-plores the possibility of using amorphous silica as a fertilizer to increase the efficiency of forest ecosystem recovery on reclaimed lands. Amorphous forms of silica exhibit multifunctionality and can exert both direct impacts on plant resili-ence to various stresses and indirect influences by improving soil properties and enhancing its fertility. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of amorphous silica on the growth of Scots pine (Pi-nus sylvestris L.) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) seedlings in a reclaimed granite quarry. To accomplish this, sites were chosen within the educational-experimental polygon for land reclamation of disturbed lands at the Ural State Forest Engineering University, situated at the Isetsk granite quarry in the Sverdlovsk region. The soil analysis revealed a moderate soil acidity level (pH 4.92±0.12) and low concentrations of water-soluble potassium and nitrate nitrogen in the soils of the reclaimed site, along with a relatively elevated content of available phosphorus. These findings suggest the need for applying fertilizers and soil amendments during the establishment of forest plantations. As part of the study, works were carried out on the application of amorphous silica, as well as an analysis of its effect on the growth of tree seedlings. The findings from this research will broaden our comprehension of the efficacy of silicon-based fertilizers under forestry reclamation conditions and propose novel strategies for restoring ecosystems in technogenically disturbed areas