Honey productivity of plant formations in the Toratau Geopark of the Republic of Bashkortostan

Abstract

The Republic of Bashkortostan is one of the regions of Russia where historically, there are favorable landscape and climatic conditions for developing the beekeeping industry. The territory of the Toratau Geopark has incredible biodiversity. Bees are pollinators of entomophilous plants, which, in turn, affects the productivity of berry and fruit plants and contributes to the revival of the natural flora of forest resources. However, only 360 thousand hectares of nectar-producing linden are growing in the three-kilometer zone of apiaries, and the rest are located in inaccessible areas of the republic.Unfavorable weather conditions do not allow for productive honey harvesting during the linden blossom period. Hence, the research aimed to determine the honey productivity of plant formations in the territory of the Toratau Geopark. The results of the studies showed that high honey productivity is characterized by gnat’s linden (574.4 kg/ha) and nettle twigs (458.1 kg/ha). Maplewood formation is a source of abundant honey harvesting in the spring period, with honey productivity of the forest type of the gnarly forest - 350.4 kg/ha, prickly-bristled barry forest - 332.3 kg/ha. In early spring, floodplain elm with significant honey productivity (254.3 kg/ha) and bramble elm (252.3 kg/ha) provide supportive honey collection and build-up of bee family strength. The knowledge gained about the honey productivity of plant formations in the study area is a scientific contribution to the rational use of honey resources in the territory of Bashkortostan. Also, these studies help preserve the natural flora of forest resources, optimize the population, expand the range, and maintain the genetic purity of the people of the native Burzyan wild bee (Apis mellifera L.), as well as for obtaining productive honey collections.