Vegetation as a diagnostic indicator of gray-brown (chestnut) soils

The article talks about the role of vegetation in the formation of gray-brown (chestnut) soils. Depending on the conditions of occurrence, the nature of the soil-forming rocks and vegetation cover, this type of soil is divided into four subtypes: gray-brown dark, gray-brown ordinary, gray-brown light and gray-brown mud. Considering that different subtypes of gray-brown soils are formed in characteristic eco-climatic conditions, as well as under different vegetation, we conducted a comparative analysis of characteristic features between individual subtypes of gray-brown soils common in the semi-humid region of the Lankaran district of Azerbaijan. The vegetation cover of gray-brown (chestnut) soils was studied. The phytomass of natural and irrigated cenoses was determined, as well as the structure of natural phytocenosis with the identification of dominant families and genera of plants. On the basis of the collected material, the formation of subtypes of gray-brown soils under composite, cereal and caper formations was established. Each family includes separate genera of plants. The Compositae family includes Artemisia L. (sagebrush), the Poaceae family includes the genera: Andropogon L. (bluestem), Festuca Tourn. ex L. (fescue), Stipa L. (needlegrass), Capparaceae family includes Capparis L. genus (caper).