Weed communities of root crops in the Pamir Alai Mts, Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

Abstract

The paper presents the results of investigations of weed vegetation conducted on root crops in Tajikistan (Middle Asia), one of the world cradles of weed flora. The main research was conducted in the Zeravshanian, southern Tajikistan and Hissar-Darvasian geobotanical regions in 2011. The study was based on 107 phytosociological relevés obtained in various geobotanical regions of the country. The collected material probably presents the majority of variations among the weed communities of root cultivations in the Middle Asia. As a result of numerical analyses, 7 associations were distinguished: Convolvulo arvensis-Cyperetum rotundi, Daturo stramonii-Hibiscetum trioni, Setario pumilae-Sorghetum halepensi, Galinsogo-Setarietum, Equiseto arvensi-Xanthietum italici, Portulacetum oleracei and Brassico campestris-Lamietum amplexicauli. The last mentioned is new to science. Additionally, one subassociation has been proposed (Convolvulo arvensis-Cyperetum rotundi kochietosum scopariae). The main discrimination factor for the data set is the floristic structure of the associations. The study shows that root-crop plantations with segetal vegetation may harbor a relatively rich flora. Almost 200 species were found in vegetation plots, including some, which are rare and have not been recorded until now in this part of Middle Asia. However, most of the recorded species are widespread weeds typical for the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian geobotanical provinces.

Crop type and altitude are the main drivers of species composition of arable weed vegetation in Tajikistan

“…Unfortunately, to date, in certain regions of Middle Asia, for example in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, research on the plant communities of field ecosystems is very scarce in terms of syntaxonomical, ecological or even floristical data. Recently, it is only in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan that a few works on syntaxonomical diversity of cereal, root and rice field crops have been made available (Nowak & Nowak, ; Nowak et al ., ,b,c).…”

A report on the conservation status of segetal weeds in Tajikistan

“…The Red Data Book of the country does not include weed species (Narzikulov, ). Recently, several papers dealing with the segetal vegetation (weed communities) of cereals, root crops and rice fields have been published (Nowak et al ., ,b,c; Nowak & Nowak, ). Probably due to extensive cultivation, agroecosystems in Tajikistan can be easily colonised and provide suitable living conditions for species from various habitats, for example, river gravel beds, scree and sward vegetation.…”

Populetum pamiricae ass. nova – an endemic forest association to Pamir in Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

“…Very recently, several papers involving vegetation classification concerning forests [20], aquatic vegetation [21], segetal vegetation [e.g. [22][23][24][25] and rock vegetation [15,26,27] have been published. Few studies, with the exception of [20] have entirely devoted to a riverine forest phytocoenosis, Populetum talassicae, which is endemic to Middle Asia and occurs in a very restricted area in the area of the Talas valley (Kyrgyzstan) and Iskanderkul (western Tajikistan).…”