Crown defoliation of Tilia cordata Mill. as an indicator of air pollution levels in landscape garden areas within city conditions

The article highlights aspects of dendroindication for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur pollution of surface air layers in the gardening landscape layout of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden, NAS Ukraine. There is a number of reasons to involve Tilia cordata Mill. as a dendroindicator of air pollution for the research in such conditions. Tree crown defoliation of Tilia cordata is an important sign to indicate the presence of atmospheric pollutants (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen) in concentration above 2.5 MPC. The results presented in the article explain the dependence of the pollutants gradation of spreading and the specifics of chosen dendroindicator defoliation within the studied gardening landscape area during 2007?2010. The study used Tilia cordata species within Boyarsky forestry as control subjects. The heterogenity of air pollution influence on the gardening landscape is explained. The data on fluctuating levels of dendroindicator defoliation are presented with reference to the levels of technogenic pollution stated during the period of research.