Some areas of Karelia that are close to the state border were restricted territories that have been poorly studied until recently. In 1993 - 1995, meadows were stadied in the Suojarvi administrative district. Twenty - three meadow cenoses that cover a total area of about 170 hectares were investigated in the field.

The study area is dominated by dry meadows that replaced plowlands and are genuine long - fallow meadows that differ in age. The grass stands of meadow phytocenoses are fairly diverse specifically. In addition, some herbs and legumes, known as valuable forage plants, occur. Legumes account for up to 6% of phytomass.

The meadows studied represent the class of formations Prata genuina that usually slow a satisfactory yielding capacity. Most of the meadows investigated belong to the group of formations Prata genuina nanopoacosa. In this group of formations edificators are dominated by low herbs. Its origin is usually related to the formation of abandoned field vegetation and degeneration of sown meadows on poor unfertilized soils. Grass stands are not formed yet everywhere. They consist of a mixture of various species among which the main edificator cannot be distinguished.

The main formations in the study area are Agrosteta tenuis, Anthoxantheta odoratum, Dactyleta glomeratae, Deschampsieta cespitosae, Elytrigieta repentis, Festuceta rubrae and Mixtoherbeta poacosum.

The productivity of the meadows studied was 1.7 - 4.2 t/ha air - dry mass. Meadow cenoses consist of 16 gramen species, 7 legume species, 5 sedge and rush species, and 66 motley grass species. Most of the species studied are typical mesophytes. Some rare and disappearing species, such as Campanula rapunculoides and Gymnadenia conopsea ( Red Book of Karelia. 1985 ), are encountered.

The above species composition indicates the relative floristic diversity of the long - fallow meadows investigated. Therefore, their study should continue, and some sites should be preserved as standard genuine mesophilic meadows that are scarce in Karelia.