The vital condition of plantings on the territory of Secondary school No. 2 named after Tikhomirovoy O. A. in Yoshkar-Ola

Valabugina Nadezhda Ruslanovna Master's degree; Institute of Forest and Nature Management; Volga State Technological University 424000, Russia, Republic of Mari El, Yoshkar-Ola, Lenin Square, 3, room 245 valabuginanadezda@gmail.com Muhametova Svetlana Valer'evna ORCID: 0000-0001-7892-6450 PhD in Agriculture Associate Professor; Institute of Forest and Nature Management; Volga State Technological University 424000, Russia, Republic of Mari El, Yoshkar-Ola, Lenin St., 3, office 245 MuhametovaSV@volgatech.net

Granitsa Yuliya Vladimirovna PhD in Agriculture Head of the Department; Institute of Forest and Nature Management; Volga State Technological University 424000, Russia, Mari El region, Yoshkar-Ola, Lenin St., 3, office 245 GranitsaYV@volgatech.net

Introduction. The school yard is a complex of outdoor areas specially designed for various types of activities depending on the age of the students ^[1]. The environment surrounding a person throughout his life actively influences his psychophysiological state. The environment has a particularly active effect on children and adolescents. The school grounds are one of the important parts of the educational environment ^[2]. An important aspect regarding the impact of the environment on schoolchildren is the fact that on average a child spends from 5 to 7 hours a day at school, 5-6 days a week ^[3] and combined with the fact that due to growing urbanization, the number of green open spaces is limited, the school grounds can play a key role. the role as a resting place for students ^[4].

Several studies have examined the relationship between green spaces and academic performance. It has been hypothesized that green spaces can help improve academic performance and, over time, help reduce inequalities in the level of preparedness of students ^[5]. More and more studies show a link between green spaces and overall health. Children spend more time indoors, while mental and behavioral health problems in children are becoming more common ^[6].

Since children and teaching staff spend a significant amount of time in the schoolyard, it is important to maintain a healthy state of green spaces, which is directly related to maintaining ecological balance and improving the quality of the environment. The presence of green areas on school grounds has a positive impact on the health of students, as they spend a significant part of the day inside school premises and need fresh air. In addition, the green areas serve as training grounds for classes in biology, ecology and other subjects.

This study is devoted to the study of the territory of secondary school No. 2 in Yoshkar-Ola (Republic of Mari El), located at 46 Osipenko St. and named after O.A. Tikhomirova. Olga Alexandrovna Tikhomirova (6.07.1923–6.03.1943) was a native of our republic, formerly called the Mari Autonomous Region, and was a Soviet intelligence officer and nurse. During the Great Patriotic War, she actively participated in the partisan movement in Belarus, served in the intelligence unit of the 1st Belarusian Partisan Brigade ^[7]. She graduated from the city school, and in 1939 entered the Faculty of the Mari Pedagogical Institute ^[8].

Research methodology. In the period 2022-2023, an inventory of woody and shrubby plants was carried out using generally accepted methods ^[9], and an inventory plan and statement were compiled. The identification of species was carried out on the basis of their morphological characteristics. To assess the sanitary condition of plants, a 5-point scale was used, provided for by the Rules of Sanitary Safety in Forests, approved by the Decree of the Russian Federation in 2020.

The results of the study. The surveyed school site has an area of 2 hectares. There are flower arrangements and lawns in this space, but the main part of the territory is occupied by trees and shrubs. Green vegetation is located both around the perimeter of the site and in its central areas. 488 woody and shrubby plants were installed on the territory of the school site.

Table 1 shows the total number of plant specimens by life forms and the percentage ratio. According to the data presented, deciduous trees predominate on the school grounds, accounting for 70% of the total number of plants, while coniferous trees are slightly represented, only 2%.

Table 1 – Number of woody and shrubby plants by group

Among the accounting points, the presence of 29 stumps was established, occupying 6% of the total number of inventory points. Consequently, measures were taken on the surveyed school grounds to selectively cut down plantings in poor condition, such as diseased or withered trees. These works are aimed at improving the overall phytosanitary condition of green spaces and preventing the spread of diseases among healthy plants. It is important to emphasize that such measures help to improve the appearance of the landscape and reduce the likelihood of dangerous situations associated with falling dry branches or trees.

The condition of woody plants by category is shown in Table 2.

Table 2 – Distribution by category of woody plants

It was found that most of the plants on the school site are in satisfactory condition, their categorization is shown in Figure 1. The largest number of plants are classified as category II, weakened – 72% of all plantings. 24% of plants are classified as category I, healthy. Only 4% of severely weakened category III plants were detected, and 1 specimen of a shrinking category IV plant was detected, which is 0.2%.

Fig. 1. Percentage of plants by condition category

The number of plantings belonging to category I is 111. They include coniferous trees, deciduous trees and deciduous shrubs, representatives of 16 species. These plants are characterized by the best indicators, they are not affected by diseases and pests, although they have dry branches in a small amount. A significant part of the healthy plantings is located near the main entrance to the school grounds in the form of an alley planting, where common lilac is planted on one side and Hungarian lilac on the other. The hedge of the brilliant dogwood is located near the monument to Tikhomirova O.A.

The majority of specimens of hanging birch and small-leaved linden belong to category II. Ordinary birch plantings are used as an element of the landscape organization of the territory, delimiting the sports and administrative zones. A general phytosanitary assessment of the plantings indicates a satisfactory condition, but individual specimens require measures to remove dry branches, as well as remove foreign objects such as information signs and nails located on tree trunks. In addition, there is the problem of exposed roots that create obstacles for pedestrians to move. Birch trees reach a height of more than 20 m, have a well-developed beautiful openwork crown.

Small-leaved linden is represented in various parts of the school grounds. There are both group and single plantings of this tree on the east side of the school. The phytosanitary status of this species is assessed as satisfactory, as there are defects such as dry branches, frost cracks, gnarled hollows and tobacco branches. On the western side of the building, small-leaved linden stands are arranged in rows. The height of the linden trees reached 25 m, the crown corresponded to the specific features of the plants.

A small number of plantings are classified as category III – only 18 specimens. Among them there is a cultivated apple tree growing in various parts of the territory. It is characterized by such signs as the presence of dry branches, dead leaves, frost cracks, as well as the presence of insect pests. In severely weakened specimens of the common spruce, tarring, damage by stem pests, the presence of frost cracks and hollows of various sizes were noted.

Category IV, shrinking, includes a single specimen of a cultivated apple tree, which has a significant number of dry branches, gnarled hollows, tobacco knots, frost cracks, broken branches, as well as a large number of pests, including scabies, aphids and cicadas.

Conclusions. Thus, the condition of the tree and shrub plantations on the territory of school No. 2 in Yoshkar-Ola named after O.A. Tikhomirova is assessed as satisfactory. The largest number of plantings belongs to the second vital category, among them are mainly hanging birch and small-leaved linden. The minimum number of shrinking plants was found, only 1 specimen. apple trees are cultured. The overall environmental situation on the school grounds is favorable, which creates comfortable conditions for children and teachers to stay outdoors. However, it should be noted that some areas of the school grounds can be supplemented with new ornamental shrub plants, which will improve the overall structure of landscaping and increase biological diversity.