Agroecological Aspects of Chickpea Growing in the Dry Steppe Zone of Akmola Region, Northern Kazakhstan

Nurlan Serekpayev¹, Vladislav Popov², Gani Stybayev¹, Adilbek Nogayev¹ and Assiya Ansabayeva¹

¹S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro-Technical University – Astana, Kazakhstan

²Agricultural University – Plovdiv, Bulgaria

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2275

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop and offer technology for growing chickpea which comprises the application of stimulants for biological growth and mineral fertilizers adapted to conditions of dry steppe zone of Akmola region in Northern Kazakhstan. To achieve the goal, the study was focused on determining the combined effect of an integrated system of optimal agro-ecological conditions, soil cultivation technology (i.e. zero tillage versus traditional) and addition of nutrients (fertilizers, stimulants of legumes) on the growth and productivity of chickpea. This research shows that chickpea is well developed in growing season under traditional technology as compared to the zero-tillage technology, i.e. traditional soil cultivation improves germination and vitality of seeds and makes effective use of soil aeration and soil porosity in the soil layer of 0-20 cm. The results show that the combinations of mineral fertilizer CaSO4 + 2H2O5 + Rizotorfin (root inoculants) and the combination of Izagry Phosphorus + Rizotorfin can be recommended to farmers.  The application of Izagry Phosphorus reduces the phenophases’ elapsing time during chickpea growth and the total length (in days) of the chickpea growth. It gives farmers an opportunity to apply late sowing, for example in early June, and make use of higher temperatures during the main growing season that could have a positive impact on biological productivity of chickpea. It also improves chickpea morphological parameters (i.e. plant height) which produces a significant increase in biological productivity, i.e. yield, which was significantly higher under the traditional technology than under the zero-tillage. A remarkable increase of grain yield by 88% to 95% compared to the control variant, upon treatment with Izagry Phosphorus and Izagry Phosphorus + Rizotorfin, respectively, was observed. It provides new economic incentives for farmers that practice environmentally-friendly farming in Kazakhstan.

KEYWORDS: chickpea; traditional technology; zero tillage technology Izagry Phosphorus; rizotorfin

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