Condition and structure of meadow vegetation in the floodplain area of the Bolshoi Kinel River

Samara State Agrarian University (SSAA), Kinel, Russia

^* Corresponding author: melnikova-agro@mail.ru

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the structural composition of little-studied riverine grassy landscapes, focusing on the vegetation of floodplain meadows. Botanical analysis of the vegetation was conducted on the territory of the floodplain of the Bolshoi Kinel River, Kinelsky district, Samara region, using generally accepted geobotanical methods. The current state and composition of plant communities in the floodplain meadows of the Bolshoi Kinel River are described. The study reveals that various types of floodplain meadows were formed on the floodplain profile under the influence of environmental and natural factors, with three classes of meadow formations identified: real, steppe, and swampy. The real meadow formations predominate on the floodplain profile, characterized by a high number of plant associations and plant species. In contrast, the steppe meadow formations, common in the middle section of the floodplain, are less developed, as evidenced by the associative and species composition of the grass stand. Notably, the vegetation of swampy meadows requires a comprehensive and more detailed study, as the floodplain of the Bolshoi Kinel River is characterized by an abundance of swamps distributed throughout the entire profile.