Growth and biomass partitioning of 6-year-old spruces under alkaline dust impact

Two-year-old seedlings of Picea abies L., P. glauca L. and P. mariana L. were planted in a sample plot subjected to high concentrations of cement dust and in an unpolluted (control) area in 1990. In 1994, the six-year-old trees were dug up in the pre-bud-break period for morphological assessment. Comparison of biomass formation and the lengths of different organs of the trees showed that alkalization of the growth substrate (pH 8.1) and the high level of dust pollution load (600-2400 g m(-2) yr(-1)) are serious factors inhibiting height growth by 61%, the length of shoots and needles by 75 and 28%, respectively, and the dry weights of roots by 88%, stems by 90%, shoots by 91% and needles by 55%. The ratio of roots to shoots dry weights increased in all species of spruces under stress. P. mariana was the most sensitive to dust pollution impact and alkalization of the environment.