Leymus Chinensis (Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev) in the Western Trans-Baikal Region: Cenosis Structures, Production, and Biochemical Composition in the Current Growth Environment

Abstract

The phytocoenotic characteristics of leymus-chinensis cenoses growing in soils of different types in the meadow–steppe, the floodplain–steppe, and the halophytic grasslands in the western Trans-Baikal region are considered. The botanical composition is found to consist of 28 glicophyte species, 17 halotolerant glicophytes, and 6 halophytes. It is determined that the genus Leymus contains three species: Leymus chinensis, L. buriaticus, and L. littoralis. The botanical composition of leymus stands in the westerm Trans-Baikal region includes 51 species, 20 families, and 40 genera. The species are predominantly assigned to the steppe complex based on different types of xerophytes belonging to the Asian type of distribution. Rhizome species are a major biomorph component; in addition, a significant proportion is composed of species with short life cycles. The variation in similarity between the leymus species compositions is weak to moderate due to the significant involvement of families and genera with low species richness. The primary production of leymus cenoses comprises 1029—2370 g/m2 per year. The aboveground phytomass is almost completely formed by Leymus chinensis. The biochemical composition, feed value, and protein ratio of edificator dry matter are influenced by the environmental opportunities for growth, while they generally correspond to the standard indicators.