Destroyed Windbreaks as One of The Main Causes of Agricultural Production Decrease in Georgia

Windbreaks have very important economic, social and environmental value for sustainable development of the country. They increase crop and fruit quality and yield in sheltered areas by providing lower temperatures, increasing relative humidity and retaining soil moisture, reducing damage of soil erosion due to strong winds. The first windbreaks have been planted in Georgia in the early 1960s. Since that time they were developed in all agricultural lands in East and West parts of the country and played their positive role in increasing yields of different kind of crops (wheat, rye, corn, barley etc.), especially in East Georgia, as well as in West Georgia-tea and citrus yields (mandarins, oranges, lemons feijoas). In the Soviet period windbreaks always maintained well. This situation continued until 1991 when the Soviet Union broke up and the period of full chaos began. In process of natural gas and electricity deficit the local population logged and destroyed better part of nearby forests and windbreaks for firewood and cooking. These and other questions regarding windbreaks importance and need of their reconstruction are discussed in the article.

Keywords: Windbreak; Crop; Grass; Pasture; Agriculture; Yield; Sustainability