PLANTS OF THE “MIXTO-CALLIGONETA” COMMUNITY WHICH WIDELY DISTRIBUTED IN KARSHI DESERT CONDITIONS

ABSTRACT

This study examines the composition and species of the “Mixto-Calligoneta” plant community widely distributed in the Karshi Desert. The research identified 5 species of the genus Calligonum, including Calligonum eriopodum, C. microcarpum, C. paletzkianum, and others. These species are primarily found on sandy, saline, and gray soils. The results indicate that Calligonum species are resilient to the extreme conditions of the desert zone, but their distribution is declining due to anthropogenic factors such as oil and gas exploration, livestock grazing, and deforestation. Species such as Calligonum matteianum, C. molle, and C. paletzkianum are rare and endangered, and they are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. The study employed geobotanical methods to analyze the species composition, distribution, and factors affecting the plant communities. The findings highlight the need for measures to protect Calligonum species and prevent their extinction in the Karshi Desert.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В данном исследовании изучен состав и виды растительного сообщества “Mixto-Calligoneta”, распространенного в условиях Каршинской пустыни. В ходе исследования были идентифицированы 5 видов рода Calligonum, включая Calligonum eriopodum, C. microcarpum, C. paletzkianum и другие. Эти виды преимущественно распространены на песчаных, засоленных и сероземных почвах. Результаты исследования показывают, что виды Calligonum устойчивы к экстремальным условиям пустынной зоны, однако их распространение сокращается под влиянием антропогенных факторов, таких как нефтегазовая промышленность, животноводство и вырубка лесов. Виды Calligonum matteianum, C. Molle и C. Paletzkianum являются редкими и находятся под угрозой исчезновения, они включены в Красную книгу Узбекистана. В исследовании использовались геоботанические методы для анализа видового состава, распространения и факторов, влияющих на растительные сообщества. В результате подчеркивается необходимость принятия мер по защите видов Calligonum и предотвращению их исчезновения в условиях Каршинской пустыни.

Keywords: Karshi steppe, psammophiles, Calligonum, endem, Red Book, formation, oil and gas industry, animal husbandry.

Ключевые слова: Каршинская степь, псаммофилы, Calligonum, эндем, Красная книга, формация, нефтегазовая промышленность, животноводство.

Introduction. In the southern regions of Uzbekistan, a large part of Kashkadarya, Bukhara regions, along with Samarkand and Navoi regions, as well as certain parts of Turkmanabad region of the neighboring Republic of Turkmenistan, are occupied by Karshi desert areas.  The total area is 13 thousand km², most of which consists of sand dunes [1]. Cultivated fields, gardens, settlements, cattle breeding, oil and gas and several other fields have been developed as a result of the development of a large part of the Karshi desert. As a result, changes occurred in the natural flora of the desert.  It is necessary to know the current condition of the plants of the desert and give them a correct assessment in terms of quantity and quality. In addition, analysis of the causes of changes in the vegetation cover, determining the factors affecting them is one of the urgent issues.

Materials and styles. The study area is the Karshi desert, which includes sandy plains in the south of Uzbekistan, west of Kashkadarya region.  The area is located in the Sundukli district of Kashkadarya physical-geographic district [6; 1]. 

 Barren, sandy desert, light-brown soils and meadow swamps are well developed in the territory of the Karshi desert [6].  The area is part of Karshi-Karnobchol district of Bukhara district [12].

In order to identify sugarcane communities and analyze their species spectrum in the Karshi desert, generally accepted geobotanical, routed and semi-stationary methods Polevaya geobotanika, 1964; Shennikov, 1964; Chibrik et al., 2014 [2;4;5;9] were used.  The plant species were given on the basis of information from "Flora of Uzbekistan" (1941-1966), [3] S.K. Cherepanov and plantarium.ru Czerepanov, 1995[13].  Life forms of the species were given on the basis of "Central Asian Plant Identifier" (1982-1993)[7], distribution areas were given on the basis of "Flora of the USSR" (1934-1984)[3; 5].

Results and their analysis

There are more than 150 species of the genus Calligonum on earth, about 90 species in Central Asia, 74 species in the flora of Uzbekistan, 34 species in the sandy deserts of the republic. M. Nabiev notes that there are 45 types of sugarcane in Central Asia, while L.Ya. Kurochkina reports that there are 88 types of candies in Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

The range of Kandim extends from the west to the east of the globe from the Sahara desert in North Africa to the Ordos and Alashan deserts of China. In addition, it has occupied the sandy deserts of Western Siberia, Central, Central and Western Asia, North Africa [3].

In Uzbekistan, it can be found in the sandy areas of the desert zone, including mostly in Kyzylkum and Yozyovon deserts, desert areas of Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Surkhandarya regions, as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan [3]. Calligonum L. family Calligonum aphyllum, C. eriopodum, C. orthotrichum, C. microcarpum, C. pellucidum, C. caput-medusae, C. leucocladum representatives should be listed separately as indicator plants for sandy and sand dunes and shifting sands. Along with these species, Ammodendron conollyi can also be found nearby. Kandimlar defines the landscape of many parts of the desert zone, in most habitats it is resistant to extreme conditions [3; 5; 7]. Calligonum divides the representatives of the genus Calligonum into 2 systems for the sandy deserts of Uzbekistan: 1) mixed juzgun (Mixto-Calligoneta) and sugarcane (Calligoneta eriopiodi) [7].

Psammophilic plant communities in the Karshi desert area included 2 types, 5 formations and 8 associations. The first type of psammophyllous tree-shrubs is found in semi-hard sands in a complex type of sugarcane-cherxes-mixed saxovulzor (Haloxylon aphyllum-H.persicum-Salsola richteri-Calligonum sp.), associations. Calligonum leucocladum-Salsola arbuscula-S. richteri [4; 9] associations were noted in yellow-brown gypsum soils, called xerophytic semi-shrubs of the second type.

Field studies show that in the areas of the Karshi desert, at an altitude of 240-300 meters above sea level, mainly on sandy plains, barren and gray soils, in addition to sandy and unevenly distributed sand dunes, there are associations with sugar. Although the area of sugarcane formations in the Karshi desert areas is located in the southeastern regions, it is distinguished by the fact that it consists of several associations. The sugarcane formation in the area includes mixed sugarcane, cherkezli-sugarcane, selini-sugarcane, ilokli-sengereni-sugarcane, saksovulli-sugarcane associations. The number of species in the associations is 66, 3 trees, 8 shrubs, 9 shrubs, 20 perennial grasses, 26 annual grasses were recorded (figure 1).

Figure 1. Scattered areas of Kandim communities

Although it is reported in the literature that 9 species belonging to the genus Calligonum L. are involved in the sugarcane formed in the Karshi desert, we found 5 more of them. Calligonum eriopodum Bunge., C. matteianum Drobow., C. microcarpum Borszczow., C. molle, C. paletzkianum Litv. can be listed. They belong to the family Polygonaceae Juss. [10; 9]. 3 of the existing species include Calligonum matteianum Drobow., C. molle Litv., C. paletzcianum Litv. It is rare and rare, it is included in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the international and the Republic of Uzbekistan with the 2 nd category, because it is preserved in a small area in the vicinity of Dengizkol in Kyzylkum and Karshi desert under special conditions and is in danger of disappearing. These species were reflected in the list of plants of the Red Book of Uzbekistan in 2009 and ten years later in 2019 [10; 13].

Calligonum eriopodum is one of the endemic species of sandy deserts of Central Asia [13]. It is a shrub or tree, 2.5–3 [6] m tall, psammophilous. Vegetation lasts from early spring to late autumn [7; 13]. This species is more widespread in the fields of the Karshi desert than other species. It is not difficult to find it in several associations. The basis of the mixed sugarcane garden was also taken by this species. Compared to Calligonum microcarpum, the number of C. eriopodum and C. paletzcianum bushes is less in the fields. In communities with C. microcarpum, its share is 5-20%, while in mixed sugarcane its average share is 10-18%. In general, the land surface coverage of mixed sugarcane is 15-20%. C. eriopodum and C. paletzkianum occupy 2-12% of the earth's surface in communities. C. eriopodum is a shrub or small tree 50 cm to 3 m tall. [3; 7]. Mixed sugarcane with C. paletzcianum is not very abundant in the Karshi desert areas. They can be found only in certain small plots. Desert trees Ammodendron conollyi and Haloxylon persicum take part in mixed sugarcane. Among the bushes, you can find Salsola arbuscula, Salsola richteri and C. molle, C. matteianum in a small number of 1-5 bushes. If Astragalus villosissimus and Convolvulus divaricatus are present from the shrubs, the associations created at the expense of the above-mentioned plants will be further supplemented by herbaceous plants. Astragalus unifoliolatus, Stipa sp., Ferula foetida, Carex physodes Alhagi pseudalhagi, Poa bulbosa L Karelinia caspia, Arnebia decumbens, Koelpinia turanica, Papaver pavoninum should be listed among them. The mixed sugarcane was replaced by the saxovulli-sugarcane. Sometimes you can see a mixed sugarcane field on one side of the road created by oil and gas workers, and on the other side a saxawli-candiary field.

If the two sides of the road are like this, first of all, it is a natural environment, and on the other hand, it can be considered that the areas that used to be sugar plantations were created due to the saxows planted in order to compensate for the damage caused to the plants by conducting oil and gas exploration.

While previous studies identified nine species, this research discovered five additional Calligonum species. The psammophilous plant communities in the Karshi Desert have been classified into two types, five formations, and eight associations. The study confirms that C. matteianum, C. molle, C. paletzkianum are highly restricted in range and face extinction risks. Oil and gas exploration, overgrazing, and firewood collection are major threats to Calligonum communities. Urgent measures are needed to protect Calligonum species and prevent habitat loss.

Conclusion

Mixed sugarcane with C. paletzcianum is not very abundant in the Karshi desert areas. They can be found only in certain small plots. Desert trees Ammodendron conollyi and Haloxylon persicum take part in mixed sugarcane.  Among the bushes, you can find Salsola arbuscula, Salsola richteri and C. molle, C. matteianum in a very small number of 1-5 bushes. If Astragalus villosissimus, Convolvulus divaricatus participate from the shrubs, the associations formed at the expense of the above-mentioned plants will be further supplemented by herbaceous plants. Astragalus unifoliolatus, Stipa sp., Ferula foetida, Carex physodes Alhagi pseudalhagi, Poa bulbosa L Karelinia caspia, Arnebia decumbens, Koelpinia turanica, Papaver pavoninum should be listed among them. Mixed candies were replaced by saxophone-candidims. Sometimes, there is a little space left, or on one side of the road organized by the oil and gas workers, you can see mixed sugarcane, and on the other side, saxophone-sugarcane. If the two sides of the road are like this, first of all, it is a natural environment, and on the other hand, it can be considered that the fields that used to be sugarcane fields were created due to the saxows planted in order to cover the losses caused to the plants by conducting oil and gas exploration.

The composition of the species composition of the sugarcane community distributed in the fields of the Karshi desert was systematically analyzed. Species composition It was found that Central Asian deserts represent psammophilic plant flora.  An increase in the influence of anthropogenic factors was noted in the existing sugarcane.  In the conditions of the Karshi desert, it was observed that the sugarcane community is not very large, but spread over small areas.

It was found that more than 600 mines and wells of the oil and gas industry, which is an integral part of the society, as well as large production plants in the Karshi desert region, along with sugarcane, have brought changes to the entire desert plant community in different degrees. Kandyms were used as pastures for livestock throughout the year.  It has been observed that due to the increase in the number of livestock, the long-term grazing of sheep and goats by the local population, the area of sugarcane plantations, which are used as fuel and firewood, is shrinking even faster. It is worth noting that Calligonum matteianum, C. molle., C. paletzcianum are rare and rare, endemic areas in the Karshi desert only in a small area around Dengizkol, under special conditions and are in danger of disappearing.  included with the category. We believe that it is necessary to develop ways of transformation as soon as possible to strengthen the protection of these species. Otherwise, there is a high probability that these species will become extinct in the wild.  If the attitudes and attitudes towards the use of the desert sugarcane fields and the flora do not change, the use of recent scientific achievements may lead to a number of negative consequences, such as changes in the vegetation cover and their degradation.

References:

1. Baratov P. Natural Geography of Uzbekistan. – Tashkent: O‘qituvchi, 1996. – Pp. 180-209
2. Chibrik T.S., Glazyrina M.A., Lukina N.B., Filimonova E.I. Study of Phytocenoses in Technogenic Landscapes. – Yekaterinburg: Ural University Publishing House, 2014. – 166 p.
3. Flora of Uzbekistan. – Tashkent: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, 1953. – Vol. II. – Pp. 127–172.
4. Makulbekova G.B. Psammophyte-Grass Deserts // Botanical Geography of Kazakhstan and Central Asia (within the desert region). – Saint Petersburg, 2003. – Pp. 76-80.
5. Melnikova R.D. Psammophilous Vegetation // Vegetation Cover of Uzbekistan. –Vol. 2 – Tashkent: Fan UzSSR, 1973. – Pp. 41–52.
6. Natural Conditions and Resources of Southwestern Uzbekistan. – Tashkent: Nauka, 1965. – Pp. 370–401.
7. Plant Identifier of Central Asia. – Tashkent: Fan, 1968–1993. – Vol. 1–10.
8. Rachkovskaya E.I. Desert Vegetation // Botanical Geography of Kazakhstan and Central Asia (within the desert region). – Saint Petersburg, 2003. – Pp. 20–32.
9. Rakhimova T., Shomurodov H.F., et al. The Current State and Rational Use of Uzbekistan's Desert Pastures: Monograph. – Tashkent: Navruz, 2018. – Pp. 27–130.
10. Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. – Vol. I. – Tashkent: Chinor ENK, 2019. – 356 p.
11. Retrived from: www.plantarium.ru (accessed date: 05.06.2024)
12. Tozhibayev K.Sh., Beshko N.Yu., Popov V.A. Botanical-Geographical Zoning of Uzbekistan. // Botanical Journal. – Saint Petersburg: Nauka, 2016. – No. 10 (101). – Pp. 1105–1132.
13. Tozhibayev K.Sh., Beshko N.Yu., Shomurodov H.F., Kadirov U.Kh., Turginov O.T., Sharipova V.K. Flora Cadastre of Uzbekistan: Kashkadarya Region. – Tashkent: Fan Publishing House, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2018. – Pp. 171–181.