Current Status and Resources of Alhagi pseudalhagi (Fabaceae) in the Atyrau Region, Western Kazakhstan

Abstract

Alhagi pseudalhagi, which grows in the arid zone of the Atyrau region, and an assessment of the current state of its raw material reserves were studied. Botanical characteristics, ontogenetic spectra, morphological indicators, productivity, areas of thickets, and reserves of raw materials of above-ground organs were assessed. The structural parameters of these populations in the Zhangyr and Coneu Rivers valleys, in the vicinity of Imankara Mountain, and on the Taisoigan sands were studied. It was established that the species composition of the populations includes 63 species from 54 genera and 30 families. The most common species include 49 species, which, according to their occurrence in populations of A. pseudalhagi, are distributed in the following classes: 17 species—class II (0–20%); 7 species—class III (41–60%); and 2 species—classes IV (61–80%) and V (81–100%). The maximum similarity in species composition was noted between populations in the Zhangyr and Coneu Rivers valleys. The highest morphometric indicators were observed among the population of the Coneu river valley, and the lowest are located on the Taisoigan sands. Analysis of the age spectra made it possible to determine that the populations in the Zhangyr and Coneu River valleys are characterized as young and those in the area of Imankara Mountain and on the Taisoigan sands as stable and middle-aged.