TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF DIAGNOSING THE GROSS RESOURCE OF LICORICE ROOT AND ITS EXTRACTION IN THE VOLGA-AKHTUBA FLOODPLAIN
The article reflects the results of many years of research on the study of the root system of naked licorice (Glycyrrhiza glаbra L.). The formation of this valuable plant occupies significant areas of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. The work was carried out in order to establish the regularities of the formation and accumulation of roots in local populations of licorice in order to diagnose their reserves with subsequent scientific substantiation of technological regulations for the industrial production of licorice, which guarantee self-restoration of cenopopulations. Based on the totality of morphological and ecological features, the diversity of adaptability of architectonics, the root system of licorice can be regarded as ecologically universal and, in some respects, unique. The multivariance of its structure for a number of typical habitats of this plant is explained by the influence of different regimes of surface waters during floods and subsurface waters during the growing season, in conditions of a wide variety of alluvial deposits along the profile of the soil aeration zone, their physical and chemical characteristics. The floodplain formation of naked licorice includes a large number of communities of various species composition, which, with varying degrees of its participation, are among the seven most frequently encountered associations. The most productive are clean malt houses formed in the central (insular) part of the lower floodplain and delta under conditions of annual flood moistening of soils. Licorice acquires the most intensive productive development, settling on non-saline floodplain alluvial meadow and meadow dark-colored granular soils of light granulometric composition, as well as on alluvial meadow sandy loam soils formed on middle flood relief elements. In these habitats, the root mass (total, wet) in the soil layer of 0.40 m can reach 22 ... 25 tons per hectare in some areas. Most often, the root mass of licorice naked along the soil profile is distributed as follows: 90% of all roots and rhizomes - in a layer of 1.0 ... 1.2 m, including 60% - in a layer of 0 ... 0.3 m, 20% - in layer 0.3 ... 0.5 m