Elevated concentrations of heavy metals result in soil degradation, a reduction in plant yields, and a lower quality of agricultural products, which directly endangers people, animals, and the ecosystem. The potential of three clones of Salix alba (347, NS 73/6, and B-44) and one genotype of S. viminalis for the phytoextraction of heavy metals was investigated, with the aim of identifying the most physiologically suitable willow genotypes for use in soil phytoremediation. The experiment was placed on the contaminated soil substrate collected in Kolubara Mining Basin (Serbia), enriched by high loads of heavy metal salts, and a control medium. Significant differences in the concentrations of heavy metals were recorded between the contaminated and control plant material, especially when it comes to nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), confirming that S. alba and S. viminalis are hyperaccumulator species of heavy metals. Clone 347 shows the greatest uptake of Cd and chromium (Cr), and clone B-44 takes up these metals only to a lesser extent, while clone NS 73/6 shows a less pronounced uptake of Cr. The roots have the greatest ability to accumulate Ni and Pb, Cu is absorbed by all plant organs, while Cd is absorbed by the leaves. The organ that showed the greatest ability to accumulate heavy metals was the root, which means that willows have a limited power to translocate heavy metals to above-ground organs. The studied genotypes of S. alba have a higher potential for the phytostabilization of Cu and Cd, as well as the phytoextraction of Cd, compared with S. viminalis. The results confirm the assumption of differences between different willow genotypes in terms of the ability to phytoextract certain heavy metals from soil, which is important information when selecting genotypes for soil phytoremediation.

The wood of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), considered to be a very high-quality material for processing in the wood industry, has not been tested in Serbia so far. To date, there are only small areas under northern red oak in Serbia, but there are significant stands of this species in the vicinity of Belgrade. In this paper, the basic physical and mechanical wood properties of northern red oak in Serbia were tested. The examined 57 years old tree was located in the forest of Lipovica, near Belgrade. The tree was cut down and two small logs were taken to the laboratory for analysis. The results show that the properties of wood of northern red oak do not differ significantly from the properties of native oak species in Serbia - sessile and pedunculate oak. In addition, the values of basic mechanical properties of wood of northern red oak in Serbia were similar to the relevant values obtained by other researchers in Europe and the USA. Thus, the utilization of wood of northern red oak in the local wood processing industry should be considered.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: red algae Hildenbrandia rivularis, saprotrophic fungus Cryptomarasmius corbariensis, lichenised fungi Lecanora stenotropa, Micarea misella and Sticta sylvatica, liverworts Fossombronia caespitiformis and Peltolepis quadrata, mosses Dicranoweisia cirrata and Fissidens exilis, horsetail Equisetum × moorei, gymnosperm Juniperus virginiana, monocots Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis and Spiranthes spiralis and dicots Linaria pelisseriana, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Pilosella rhodopea and Taraxacum erythrospermum are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions.

Forty-two trees of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) were examined in the area of the municipality of Savski Venac, Belgrade, to assess the condition of this allochthonous species in Serbia and its adaptability to urban environments. Physical measurements were taken and ratings of vitality and decorativeness were given. The analyzed trees are in very good condition based on their health status (80.95% of trees without visible indication of disease) and the mean values of ratings for vitality (4.45) and decorativeness (3.88). The obtained values of vitality and some physical measurements were greater than those stated in the literature, suggesting that the species has adapted well to the urban environment of Belgrade and it should be considered a suitable landscape tree species for planting in urban areas of Serbia.

Among numerous global problems, one of the most significant is air pollution. In this paper, unwashed (U) and water-washed (W) needles of two conifers—European larch and Douglas fir—were used to assess their capacity for the retention and accumulation of heavy metals. The needle samples were used to represent the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals located on the surface of the needles. The sampled European larch and Douglas fir plantations were situated at three locations in Serbia: a least polluted (Kučevo), a moderately polluted (Avala), and a very polluted (Lazarevac) site. The content of five heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Co, Cd, Pb) was investigated in the study. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) was higher in the European larch needles compared to Douglas fir, while the differences in the content of the other heavy metals between the species studied were insignificant. For both species, the following trend applied with respect to the heavy metal content in their needles: Ni ˃ Cu ˃ Co ˃ Pb ˃ Cd. Based on the results obtained, we deduced that the concentrations of all investigated heavy metals at all three locations for both species were within the allowed limits, except for nickel (Ni) content, which was over the predicted limit values for both species in the highly polluted area (Lazarevac). A PCA (principal component analysis) undertaken suggests that European larch has a greater ability to accumulate Co than Douglas fir on sites contaminated with heavy metals. The predictive foliar metal accumulation index (MAI) value was slightly higher in Douglas fir (4.14) than in European larch (3.76); therefore, the results suggest that this species would be a good planting choice, particularly in urban and industrial environments.

The South Morava River Basin was considered one of the most erosion-prone and flash flood-affected areas in the Republic of Serbia. This paper aims to apply the Erosion Potential Method (EPM) within a GIS environment to determine the spatial and temporal changes in the soil erosion coefficient, sediment production and transport, and to identify the factors contributing most significantly to erosion risk in the Grdelica Gorge for two reference years: 1970 and 2025. The intensity of soil erosion was analysed using the Erosion Potential Method according to Gavrilović. The results indicate that most of the area (62.03%) fell into slope category IV (27-70%), with all erosion categories represented. Processes of very slight erosion were predominant, covering 71.31% of the surface area (306.94 km²). The total annual sediment production (W year) amounted to 110,233.97 m3 year-1, while the specific sediment production (W sp) was 256.1 m3 km-2 year-1. The mean annual sediment transport was 81,573.14 m³/year, and the specific annual sediment transport was 189.51 m³/km²/year. A decline in population and the abandonment of arable land at higher elevations and steeper slopes, along with the implementation of extensive technical, biological, and biotechnical erosion control measures, contributed to erosion mitigation and enhanced vegetation recovery. Compared to the erosion intensity in 1970, the extent of severe erosion had notably decreased by 2025, while the proportions of slight and moderate erosion significantly increased. The mean erosion coefficient (Z mean) had decreased from 0.50 to 0.23.