Abstract only

Grain and feed crops in Kazakhstan are mainly (80%) cultivated in dryland areas. The area of arable land in the drylands of South Kazakhstan province was 824.6 thousand hectares in 1991; in 1998 it dropped to 447.6 thousand hectares, and in 2000 to 410 thousand hectares. This suggests that we have been observing almost double reduction in arable land area for the last 15 years, which is caused mainly by socio-economic changes and transition towards market economy. At present, crop rotations are not used in the dryland areas and soil-protecting activities are not carried out. Organic and mineral fertilizers are applied in very low quantities and soil fertility management doesn't provide for replenishment of the nutritive elements. Pesticides are not applied at all and therefore dryland arable areas area very much infested by weeds. In many regions of Southern Kazakhstan, many pests and diseases cause even more serious damage. The studies have demonstrated that negative humus and nutritive balances are observed in majority of the regions of Kazakhstan. Humus losses are estimated at 0.8-1.0 t/ha, annually. Grain protein content of field pea, chickpea and pea vine is 22.3- 27.4%, 22.1-28.3% and 19.5-26.0%, respectively. When field pea was included in the grain-fallow and grain crop rotation systems, this contributed to stabile production of high protein wheat grain in the years with sufficient precipitation. Some data available for the region demonstrate that grain legumes have a good economic potential, which is not limited to economic efficiency of grain and straw production only, but also contributes to soil fertility conservation. Chickpea is also valuable because its proteins are mainly originated from air nitrogen. Since chickpea utilizes of atmospheric nitrogen through nodule bacteria, it does not depletes soil but enriches it with nitrogen. After harvesting field pea and chickpea, higher quantities of movable phosphor were detected as compared with barley or wheat that proves ability of legume crops to soak up hardly reachable phosphor compounds in the soil. Thanks to these peculiarities, legume crops increase soil fertility. Since agricultural land has been privatized in Kazakhstan and the farmers can choose the crop by themselves, we can expect rapid expansion of chickpea production in Kazakhstan. Today, chickpea is more profitable than wheat, whereas technology of its production is almost similar to wheat management systems. Previously, farmers used fallows to improve soil structure, now they can grow chickpea. Farm managers are also interested in growing new crops, such as chickpea, especially if they are profitable. Since chickpea is a new crop for Kazakhstan, it was decided to organize "Field days" for introduction of this crop to Kazakh farmers and farm managers in South Kazakhstan Province. The participants visited experimental fields of Krasnovodopad Experimental Station where scientists presented many-year research results of the breeding and seed production program for cereal and food legumes crops as well as technologies of their production. There were many questions about chickpea. The scientists informed about biological characteristics and economically valuable features of this crop. All participants got very interested in simple management of chickpea fields and possibility of employing of the same machinery, as for grain crops. Many farmers requested some seeds of chickpea to plant it on their fields. Also, they inquired about possible market for chickpea grain. Considering that Kazakhs have never used chickpea as food, it would not be possible to sell it in the local market. Maybe in future, chickpea will occupy a deserving position among national meals of Kazakh people. We have to believe statements made by Kazakh farmers about rapid "Green Revolution" through introduction of chickpea into wide-scale production. Remembering that there is enough land and there is machinery for cultivation, and prices of chickpea grain is higher comparing with wheat, farmers would be very interested in chickpea Production. However a sustainable market is needed where farmers could be able to sell the harvest. If this issue is resolved positively, chickpea production will grow in Kazakhstan in the near future.

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection