Current Growth Conditions of Populus Diversifolia Schrenk and Populus Pruinosa Schrenk in the Syr-Darya Valley

Abstract

In the context of urbanization of territories and the intensification of agriculture, the biological diversity of animals and plants in their habitats is degrading. The purpose of the study is to determine the edaphic factors affecting the growth of Populus diversifolia Schrenk and Populus pruinosa Schrenk, as well as anthropogenic factors affecting their conservation in the Syr-Darya valley (Kazakhstan). For identifying the range of edaphic growing conditions, the analysis of soil samples gathered in different phytocenoses with the dominance or participation of Turanga was carried out. The following results were presented: Physical and chemical analyses of soil samples for the content of humus, mobile forms of easily hydrolyzable nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; pH aqueous solution; type, and degree of salinization. Among the 6 sections studied, 4 belong to alluvial-meadow tugai salt marsh soils, 1-to meadow salt marshes, and 1-toalluvial-meadow strongly salt marsh soils. Populus diversifolia has been found to prefer mild (sandy) and fewer saline conditions than Populus pruinosa. Among the negative anthropogenic impacts on the Turanga groves were: Regulation of the runoff of the Syr-Darya, felling of trees, fires, and grazing. The identified cenoflora was represented by 103 species of higher vascular plants. Among them, Chenopodiaceae (18), Asteraceae (18), and Brassicaceae (12) were leading. The indicative role of Turanga was based on its connection to the places of groundwater occurrence.