Steppe plant communities on the chestnut soils of Western Transbaikalia: Biological diversity and productivity

The current state of biological diversity and productivity of steppe communities on the chestnut soils of Western Transbaikalia is studied. The communities include plant species of 17 to 20 families. The bases of the communities and their productivity are built by six or seven species, and community diversity is determined by occasional and rare species, which contribute substantially. The biological productivity of steppe communities scores as little as 3–4 points. The ratio between the above- and belowground phytomasses varies from 1: 12 to 1: 36. The distribution of belowground mass is superficial. It is concentrated largely in the 0–20 cm soil layer.