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season. Based on the results, planning will be made in cooperation with the
Agronomy/Extension personnel stationed at AREC to move to verification field
trials on farmers' fields. The Agronomy/Extension activity is a new one at
AREC and is supported by the Near East Foundation to help Lebanese farmers
in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture Extension Department.
Other Research Activities
Other research work is being done on yield improvement, weed control, tolerance
to adverse conditions and the technology of handling and utilization of chickpeas.
Some of the research highlights include the evaluation of 49 accessions of kabuli
chickpeas from 14 different countries under irrigated and moisture stress conditions.
A highly significant correlation (r = 0.56) was found between the performance
of these accessions under the two different conditions. Lebanese local
cultivars ranked 18th and 22nd under irrigated and moisture stress conditions,
respectively. The root systems of these accessions are being characterized under
greenhouse conditions. Different types of canopy architecture were evaluated
under different population densities. Tall Russian cultivars (ILC 193 and 196)
grown at a relatively high population density (264,000 plants/ha) on an average
outyielded the local cultivar grown at the conventional population density
(132,000 plants/ha) by 10%. These tall types may be harvested mechanically.
Howe.ver, their seed is a little smaller than the local cultivar. Several trials and
screening nurseries are being evaluated this season.
References
FAO. 1977. FAO Production Yearbook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Rome, Italy. 296pp.
KAHN, B.A. 1979. Seed Health Testing of Broadbean, Chickpea and Lentil. M.S. Thesis. Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. ! 18pp.