Hydrophysical indicators of the Mukhrani Valley of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region

Abstract

The Mukhran-Saguramo valley,which is located in Mtsheta- Mtianeti, is an erosional plain, in the formation of which the main role was played by the material brought by the rivers Ksani, Aragvi, Narekvavi and many other rivers in the form of pebbles and gravel. Clay soils predominate in the catchment area of the Narekvavi River, while pebble and stony soils predominate in the rest of the areas. The surface of the entire territory is almost covered with alluvial material rich in carbonates, the thickness of which reaches 3-6 m.

    The following types of soils are widespread on the territory of the studied field: alluvial, brown and meadow-brown, mountain-meadow soils and their various subtypes. 

            Most of the agricultural crops are distributed on alluvial and meadow brown soils. All types of alluvial-calcareous soils are widespread in Shida Kartli, among which the largest area is occupied by silty soils.

   According to the content of nutrients, they belong to fertile soils, but are characterized by structurelessness and unsatisfactory water-physical properties. In this zone, brown-meadow soils are also widespread, which are located mainly in the elevated, foothill and mountainous regions of the valley.

The reaction of the upper layers of the section of these soils is characterized by low acidity, while the lower layers are neutral. The amount of humus is (4.5-9.8)%. Its content decreases with depth and decreases to 2% at a depth of 0.7-0.8 m.

    In the upper layers of the same depth, the nitrogen content in brown soils is twice as high as in silty soils. The distribution zone of burozems is densely populated due to their favorable agro-climatic conditions. Most of the territory is used for agricultural land. Among the natural plants in some places there are species of oak, hornbeam and xerophytic shrubs, as well as meadow plants on brown and meadow-chestnut soils.