AN EXPERIMENT ON THE UTILIZATION OF THE GEOBOTANICAL METHOD IN HYDROGEOLOGIC STUDIES OF THE CHERNYYE ZEMLI (BLACK EARTH) REGION

The authors consider those geobotanical indicators which differentiate ground-water resources of varying salinity and depth. The territory under study is the Chernyye Zemli region; the aim is primarily to locate potable water for cattle. The most reliable fresh-water indicators were found to be certain sweet clover associations. The lower the mineral content of the water and the closer it is to the surface, the more luxuriant this plant species. A specie of sagebrush is another reliable sign. Moderately saline waters were marked by associations of wormwood with some dwarfed sagebrush and cypresses or with vetch, Gypsophila and wild rye. It is noted that the latter are indicators of moderately saline water, when found in association with wormwood. Saline waters (dry residue over 12 g per L) were characterized by various sagebrushes, particularly Artemisia incana, and if this species is present in sweet clover associations even in small numbers, a higher degree of salinity is present. Field checking verified 78 percent of interpretations from aerial photography. --A. Eustus.