Comparative testing of some annual untraditional drought-resistant cereal (foxtail millet and true millet) and legume crops (bitter vetch and chickpea) was conducted during 2011-2013 in the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture (RIMSA) in Troyan (Bulgaria). The largest part of the forage yields had the stems in comparison with leaves and inflorescences. The chickpea had more green mass (12.82 t ha -1 ) and dry mass (3.27 t ha -1 ) yields than bitter vetch -respectively by 18.46% and 18.48%. Regarding the cereal crops it turned out that the true millet had more yields (12.98 t ha -1 green mass and 3.32 t ha -1 dry matter) than the foxtail millet (respectively 16.80% and 11.14%). Judging from the factual data it can be considered that the forage species studied in details are suitable for ecological fodder preparation in foothill regions of the Central Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.

Abstract. During the period 2011-2013 in Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Troyan (Bulgaria) the comparative testing of some annual drought-resistant cereal and legume pure crops (bitter vetch, chickpea, foxtail millet, true millet) was accomplished. It was found that the determining parameters the quantity of seed yields (weight of seeds in 1 inflorescence and weight of 1000 seeds) in cereals had at smaller values than legume crops. In respect of the yield of seeds can be deemed that they amount to minimum values characteristic of the corresponding forage crop. The reasons for this are the typical soils (light-gray forest pseudopodzolic with acid reaction, poorly stocked with essential nutrients, especially nitrogen) for the region, drought climate in the region in recent years and the absence of fertilization in this experiment. For this reasons the foothill regions of the Central Balkan Mountains can be considered unsuitable for ecological seed production of studied annual forage crops.

Abstract. During the 2011-2013 period in RIMSA, Troyan (Bulgaria) a comparative testing of phenological and botanical changes of some annual drought-resistant cereal and legume pure crops (bitter vetch, chick-pea, foxtail millet and true millet) for foothill regions of Central Balkan Mountains was accomplished. It was found that regardless of the reason of harvesting (for forage or for seeds) and concrete climatic conditions of the year, the legumes (chick-pea and bitter vetch) had a longer growing period than cereal species (foxtail millet and true millet). A better density of crops had the cereals but more weeds were seen in legume forage areas.