Effect of heavy metal pollution of forest soil on radial growth of Scots pine

A field experiment with artificial soil contamination by the heavy metals copper and nickel was established in Kola Peninsula, northern Russia. To study the effect of soil contamination by heavy metals without SO₂ air pollution on the Scots pine trees growth the experiment was located outside the range of forest damage due to emissions from a copper–nickel smelter. Retardation in tree diameter growth over 15 years after contamination with 20 kg of metallurgical dust per 100 m² plot was 54%, 10 kg 27%, 5 kg 16% and 2.5 kg 7%, respectively, compared with growth in control plots. Thus, decreasing Scots pine growth due to heavy metal pollution was demonstrated.