TURK 2025

The results of studies conducted in the communities of small-turf steppes of the At-Bashi River basin in Kyrgyzstan are presented. The vegetation cover of the sod steppes of the region is characterized by a number of features: absence of forests, poor flora of higher plants, sparseness, weak density and low vegetation. The grass stand of these steppes is mainly represented by herbaceous plants of a semi-rosette form and dense turf grasses, as well as subshrubs such as Artemisia tianschanica and other species. Steppe vegetation is significantly impacted by unsystematic grazing, which affects both coastal and remote communities. Under the influence of grazing pressure, vegetation degrades: the composition of dominants changes, and productivity decreases. At present, the vegetation of steppe pastures largely consists of anthropogenic communities of varying degrees of disturbance. However, under favorable environmental conditions, vegetation is able to recover. Of all the weather conditions in the period from 2009 to 2016, the most favorable for the development of grass stand were the conditions of 2016, and the driest was 2014. Weather conditions in 2016 had a positive impact on the development of grass stand and the productivity of aboveground phytomass in steppe communities. The high-mountain zone of the Inner Tien Shan has a number of specific climatic features. High intensity of solar radiation contributes to significant warming of the soil, despite the relatively low air temperature. This leads to an unstable state of the atmosphere and constant daytime convection, accompanied by the development of clouds and thunderstorms. The weather conditions here are extremely changeable: Clear days quickly give way to cloudy ones, and the growing season is accompanied by short-term heavy rains, sometimes with hail and snow, which creates extreme conditions for vegetation.