Kalmykia’s Lands of the Sarpa Depression: Phytocenotic Plant Diversity of Automorphic Solonetzes

Abstract

Goals. The study provides a classification of plants located within automorphic solonetzes of the Sarpa Depression and describes their phytocenotic diversity. Methods. General plant exploration methods were applied to perform the geobotanical survey of plants within the key targeted zone. The phytocenotic plant diversity was evaluated through the use of the taxonomical units of ecological and phytocenotic classification — ‘association’ and ‘formation’. Results. In the key targeted zone with an area of over 23 thousand hectares, plant communities are clustered in 20 associations referred to 7 formations respectively: Camphorosma monspeliaca, Artemisia pauciflora, Artemisia lerchiana, Kochia prostrata, Leymus ramosus, and Poa bulbosa. Conclusions. Phytocenoses of Camphorosma monspeliaca, Artemisia pauciflora, and Kochia prostrata plant formations are largely attributed