Abstract only

Ararat valley is the major agricultural area of Armenia. Following land privatization ( 1991-1992), areas sown to winter wheat, expanded very much in the valley at the expense of traditionally cultivated here alfalfa, fruits and vines. As most of the wheat area represents wheat monoculture, this has resul- ted in a reduction of soil fertility and yield, a wider infestation of the cropland with weeds, and wide spread of diseases and pests. To increase sustainability of agricultural pro- duction, it is necessary to reduce winter wheat area and use alterative crops as predecessors for winter wheat, which will facilitate restoration and increase of fertility of Ararat valley soils, and will solve partially the nitrogen deficiency problem. Soybean is considered such an alterative crop whose grain is highly demanded by food industry and livestock production sector. Soybean is a very valuable versatile and widely spread grain and oil crop. Its grain containg 17-26% of fat, 34-48% of well balanced by amino acid content protein and over 20% of carbohydrates. The soybean oil is half-drying distinguished by a high content of indispensable fatty acids. It contains a great number of vitamins and inorganic substances. The varied chemical composition makes it good for using for food, feed and industrial purposes. Great is importance of soybean in farm production. If managed properly, as a row crop, soybean leaves after itself a field free from weeds. It is a valuable predecessor and enriches soil with nitrogen. The conditions of Ararat valley, where our studies were held, are quite favorable for growing soybean in spring and, if early-maturing varieties are available, it can be planted in summer after winter wheat, potatoes and early vegetables are harvested. Soybean is a non-traditional crop for Armenia. In various periods there were attempts to introduce the crop into production. Even two varieties (Vagarshapati 1 and Vagarshapati 2) were developed. However, up to present, the crop has not spread widely. With due regard for the nutritional and agricultural advantages of soybean and high demand for its seed, we, since 1999, have been studying a number of early-ripening soybean varieties for their introduction into commercial and subsistence farms of Armenia. Seventeen entries received from ICARDA were studied. Based on the first-year study results, four the most early-ripening and high-yielding varieties Lada, Yug-30, L-24 and L-663 were selected. Locally selected variety Vagarshapati 2 served as a check. The results of a competitive trial of early-ripening varieties showed that all the four varieties excelled the check variety in yield by 6 to 16 percent. The varieties used to mature three weeks earlier than the check variety (Table ). During the period of studies under Ararat valley conditions, the tested varieties were not affected by diseases and pests. One of the early- ripening varieties -Yug-30- was tested in a farm of the Vayotsdzor marz on the area of 1 ha. Variety Vagarshapati 1 served as a check. Both varieties were planted in 4 replications and the plots were distributed using randomization technique. Under production, Yug-30 ripened four weeks earlier than the check variety, excelling the latter in yield by 0.3 t/ha (10.8%). Thus, early-maturing, relatively high-yielding varieties Lada, Yug-30, L-24 and L-663 can be cultivated under conditions of Ararat valley and its uphill area.

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection