Windbreaks are important vegetation line formations in rural landscape. They have polyfunctional significance and in particularly provide soil protection from erosion. The means of it function in the landscape is predetermined by its structure. The most important structure factors are considered their height and porosity. The actual, i.e. aerodynamical porosity, can hardly be quantified in the landscape and therefore it is often assesed by optical porosity determination. The optical porosity is determined by digital photographies and suitable software. By evaluation of the dynamics of the optical porosity in time, alterations in porosity of the windbreaks can be observed. The recognition and subsequent protection of the windbreaks leads to improved sustainable development in rural landscape.
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The purpose of the studies was to assess environmental contamination alongside railway lines in the suburbs of Warsaw by determining the concentrations of selected heavy metals in surface layer of soil as well as moss (Pleurozium schreberi). The studies were conducted in the southern part of Warsaw (central Poland) in three sampling points: before the railway station, and after the station to the northbound. Soil and moss samples were taken from each of these sites at distances of 1, 10, 20 and 30 m from the railroad. Heavy metals were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The highest Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb contents in soil were found 1 m from the railroad at each of the analyzed sites. pH was lowest at 30 m (sampling points A and B), and highest at 1 m whilst EC value was highest in sampling point A (near railway station). Maximum contents of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni) in Pleurozium schreberi moss were most often present in the direct proximity of the railroad tracks. ...
