Home – Home – Jornals – Flora and Vegetation of Asian Russia 2025 number 3

The article focuses on the diversity, ecology, and distribution of steppe on solonetz soils in the South-Minusinsk and North-Minusinsk basins. The steppes were classified into two classes: Agropyretea cristati and Festuco-Brometea. The first class, Agropyretea cristati, includes the following associations: Achnathero sibirici-Stipetum krylovii(variant Iris biglumis), Artemisio frigidae-Stipetum krylovii (variant Achnatherum splendens), Zygophyllo pinnati-Stipetum krylovii , and Allio ramosi-Stipetum krylovii(variant Leymus ramosus). The second class, Festuco-Brometea, is represented by the association Artemisio - Caricetum (variant Plantago salsa). Two ecological series of steppes were identified, with their diversity correlating with the soil’s richness-salinization gradient. The first series begins with the Achnathero sibirici-Stipetum krylovii association and its halophytic variant Iris biglumis . This is followed by the Artemisio glaucae-Caricetum pediformis association (variant Plantago salsa ) and concludes with communities on solonetz soils represented by the Galatello biflorae-Puccinellietum tenuissimae association. The second series starts with the Zygophyllo pinnati-Stipetum krylovii association, transitioning into the Allio ramosi-Stipetum krylovii and Artemisio frigidae-Stipetum krylovii associations, which are replaced by their halophytic variants: Leymus ramosus and Achnatherum splendens. This series ends with the more humid Artemisio glaucae-Caricetum pediformis association. The Zygophyllo pinnati-Stipetum krylovii steppes are found in the South-Minusinsk basin, where they form complexes with communities on solonetz soils, as well as with the Allio ramosi-Stipetum krylovii and Artemisio frigidae-Stipetum krylovii steppes. Halophytic variants of dry steppes (variants: Leymus ramosus and Achnatherum splendens) are observed in isolated small areas of the basin. The Artemisio glaucae-Caricetum pediformis association (variant Plantago salsa) is common in the North-Minusinsk basin, where it forms combinations with the Achnathero sibirici-Stipetum krylovii steppes in the landscape. Steppes on solonetz soils do not form large continuous areas in the South-Minusinsk and North-Minusinsk basins. Their distribution is closely associated with depressions around salt lakes, where the vegetation has been significantly impacted by heavy recreational use. As a result, these steppe communities are highly disturbed.