Edaphic Growing Conditions of Tulipa Cenopopulations in the Black Lands Nature Reserve

The paper studies edaphic conditions of the cenopopulation of Tulipa gesneriana, T. biflora and T. biebersteiniana growing in the Black Lands nature reserve. These cenopopulations belong to rare and protected plants in many regions of Russia, including the Republic of Kalmykia. The soil profile cuts are described in terms of the morphology of soil horizons and the content of humus, structure of cations and anions, as well as the particle size distribution of samples via standard techniques are analyzed. The physical and chemical characteristics of habitat soils made it possible to conclude that Tulipa gesneriana preferably grows in meadow chestnut soil in a steppe zone; Tulipa biflora – more often in saline alkali soil in a desert zone; Tulipa biebersteiniana has broader edaphic plasticity and grows both in steppe and in desert zones in different types of soils.