Effect of sulphur pollution on the radial growth of Pinus sylvestris L. in the Republic of Karelia

The effect of sulphur, as a historically important pollutant in the Karelia region, on the radial growth (the width of annual rings) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was studied. The close negative correlation between the S and the width of annual rings averaged over five-year periods are typical for the period 1977–2001 (unlike 1952–1976). Some individual samples from northern habitats have deviations from this trend, including those associated presumably with a comparatively great influence of heavy metals on plant growth. This concerns in particular such strong inhibitors as Ni and Cu. The largest changes in the plant growth, which obviously due to the combined effect of S and F with the elevated concentration of heavy metals, were recorded in the zone exposed to the emissions from Nadvoitsky aluminum plant.