Weed Control in Chickpea Crops in Lower Volga

Abstract

Chickpea is a cheap source of nutrients and does not require special soil conditions of growth. In addition, the properties of the symbiotic relationship of nitrogen-containing bacteria in its root system make it a valuable crop for agriculture. Due to its droughtresistant properties, it is one of the most dynamically developing cultures in export potential, which allows producers making profitable trading operations in foreign food markets and improving their financial condition. The climatic conditions of the Russian Federation make it possible to grow chickpeas and produce its seeds. The cultivated areas of chickpea in Russia in 2018, according to Russian Statistic Agency, amounted to 851.2 thousand hectares. Over the year, they increased by 71.6 %, from 2013 – by 26.5 %. Volgograd region in the all-Russian chickpea field occupies 22.5 % after the Saratov region, on yield it occupies the seventh position after the Stavropol Territory – 7.7 c/ha. Chickpea is a valuable crop, the cultivation of which will make it possible to obtain grain beans that are valuable for human food and to engage Russian agricultural producers in export operations. However, weed vegetation reduces the efficiency of chickpea production. The article describes a method of dealing with weed vegetation in chickpea crops in dry conditions. This will allow the use of tank mixtures of herbicides, which are cheaper in cost and effective in combating weeds in chickpea crops. Using this method, it is possible to get a crop without spending extra funds and achieve a profitability of 15 and 25.6 %.