Halophytic vegetation of the Serdobsk district of the Penza region

The vegetation cover of two saline areas of the Serdobsk district of the Penza region were studied: «Krasniy solonetz» and «Serdobsky solonetz». The total flora is 313 species of vascular plants, of which 1 species is included in the Red book of the Russian Federation (Red…, 2008), 27 - in the Red book of the Penza region (Red…, 2013). 1 species ( Artemisia nitrosa Weber ex Stechm.) is recommended for inclusion in the new regional Red book. The studies were carried out in 2008-2018 by the method of geobotanical profiling. 110 descriptions were made using the traditional technique («Serdobsky solonetz» - 80 and «Krasniy solonets» - 30). An ecological-phytocenotic classification on a dominant basis has been developed. The halophytic vegetation currently occupies most of the area of both sites (about 64%); halophytic steppes (30.6%) and halophytic meadows (33%) are found on the «Serdobsky solonetz», and only halophyte steppes (64%) are represented on the «Krasniy solonetz». The halophytic vegetation of the «Serdobsky solonetz» is the most diverse. The solonetz contains semi-shrub and perennial herb halophytic steppes (13.2% each), perennial herb halophytic meadows (15.4%); the «Krasniy solonets» is dominated by semi-shrub halophytic steppes (44%) and annual herbaceous steppes (20%). The main stages of halophytic vegetation demutation in the forest-steppe zone are established, which proceed differently depending on the degree of soil moisture and salinization. We propose to organize two natural monuments: «Serdobsky solonetz» (150 hectares) and «Krasniy solonetz» (25 hectares).