Agro Ecological Conditions of Dark Grey Soil in Imereti Region

Abstract

Georgia, in particular, the dark grey soils of the middle belt of the Imereti mountain-forest zone are widespread. This soil is of bioclimatic type which analogues are found in many regions of the world forest zone and are formed in geographical and landscape conditions similar to Georgia. According to the vertical zoning, forest dark grey soils are spread from 600-900 meters above sea level to 2000-2100 meters. In Imereti, in the lower zone of the distribution of these soils, they border the yellow and red soils, and in the upper zone, the subalpine soils of the mountain-meadow.They, like the relief of the territory of all mountainous countries, the relief strip of forest dark grey soils in Imereti is very difficult in relief. It is fragmented, which in turn is related to the geological structure, lithological composition of rocks, tectonic processes, erosion-denudation occurrences and more.The thickness of the soil changes with the inclination of the slope, gravel, properties, the greater the slope, the less soil moisture, the slower the soil is washed away, and the dryness of the soil is known to be unfavorable for the plant. Under these conditions, a very small amount of humus-accumulation horizon is formed, which is unsatisfactory in terms of soil protection importance and fertility. At the same time it is noteworthy that the soils of the southern exposure are hotter than those of the north.Dark grey soils are developed on the Tertiary and post-Tertiary sandstones, clays and their overcrop products in the southern Imereti region, which includes the northern slopes of the Meskheti Range, within the Zestafoni, Bagdati, Samtredia, Vani districts. Soil-forming rocks are Lower and Middle Eocene sandstones, marls, clay-shales, erupted (andesites, tuffs) rocks.These soils are developed under broadleaf (hornbeam, chestnut, oak) and deciduous-coniferous forest cover.Sandy soils are spread in Khoni, Baghdati, Vani, Tkibuli, Chiatura, Kharagauli, Imereti region.