The publication of this Handbook was supported by the Russian Federation

Georgia (E. Sanadze).  Salt-affected  soils  in  Georgia  occupy  an  area  of   112600  ha,  which 
represents 1.6% of  the total area of  the country. Such soils are found on plains, mostly within 
the Alazani Valley and Eldari Lowland and to a lesser extent within the Kvemo Kartli Province 
(Gardabani, Marneuli, Samgori and Krtsanisi and very few in Shua Kharaba).
Salt-affected foils of  Georgia are found within the dry subtropical climatic zone with hot summers 
and snow-free winters, mean annual temperatures of  12.1-12.5°C, sum of  active temperatures of  
4000-4500 °C, a growing season of  7 months and a mean annual precipitation of  380-600 mm 

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Annex A.Classifications, assessment criteria and distribution of salt-affected soils 
with the largest peak in winter followed by peaks in May and June and precipitation to evaporation 
ratio within a range of  0.33-0.50.
Salt-affected  soils  occur  mostly  within  intermontane  basins,  alluvial  plains  and  dry  lake  beds 
at  different  altitudes.  Their  parent  materials  are  salt-containing  alluvial  and  proluvial-diluvial 
sediments including clays. The natural vegetation is represented by steppe communities.
Salt-affected soils of  Georgia can be subdivided into two large groups: Solonchak and Solonetz, 
which  have  very  different  properties,  although  connected  in  terms  of   their  genesis.  Their  salt 
composition is dominated by sodium sulphate (mirabilite or Glauber's salt) and chlorides. They 
have a high pH and poor air circulation and infiltration capacities due to their clayey composition, 
poor  structure  and  a  high  content  of   montmorillonite.  Soils  affected  by  different  degrees  of  
salinity/alkalinity require different ameliorative treatments that may include hydrotechnical (e.g., 
drainage), agricultural (e.g., salt-resistant crop cultivation) and agrotechnical (e.g., tillage) measures.