CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF IRRIGATION, COLLECTOR-AND-DRAINAGE AND GROUND WATERS OF THE LOWER ALAZANI VALLEY
MARIAM ELIZBARASHVILI, LALI SHAVLIASHVILI, GULCHINA KUCHAVA
ABSTRACT. – Chemical composition of irrigation, collector-and-drainage and ground waters of the Lower Alazani Valley. Kakheti region is one of the important regions for agriculture development in Georgia. Salinized soils (54 thou. hectares) are extended in the area of Alazani valley, in Sighnaghi region of Kakheti. Sighnaghi region is poor with water resources and atmospheric precipitations. Air temperature in summer months reaches here 35-40°C that along with extended period without precipitations often becomes the reason of droughts. Chemical composition of irrigation channel, collector-and-drainage and ground waters of the Lower Alazani Valley in Sighnaghi region of Kakheti is considered in the work. It is established that the water of Lower Alazani irrigation channel is suitable for irrigation; collector-and-drainage waters in case of low mineralization may be used as the additional source of irrigation; ground waters belong to the category of ground waters of high salinity and at the same time mineralization have a tendency to change according to seasons, in particular, mineralization increases in summer and autumn.
Keywords: irrigation channel, collector-and-drainage and ground waters