I - --ii

Seedbed preparation is very minimal; disc plowing is used directly after harvesting
the cereal crop. Then prior to planting and after the rain, the land is
disced for weed control. If an animal plow is used, seed is put into the plow
furrows which are 30-40 cm apart. The distance between seeds in the furrow is
10-15 cm. Where tractors are used, seeds are hanii broadcasted and covered by a
disc harrow. The local seeds are planted at 80-100 kg/ha. Hand weeding is
practised.
Harvesting is done by hand; the crop is pulled from the ground,gathered in
small heaps, left to dry for a while, then hauled by tractors to larger piles in the
farmer's yards in the village. Threshing iscarried out by animals, tractors or local
stationary machines; yield losses are high due to these operations.
Fertilizers are not used, the Rhizobium inoculation is not practised. However,
natural Rhizobia have been found to exist in all areas of chickpea production.
Very good nodulation in all the experimental sites in the different areas was
observed this year.
Utilization and Marketing
Chickpea is considered to be a very useful protein source in the diet. Very small
amounts are utilized directly as fresh seeds before the full maturity of the crop.
However, chickpea is mainly used as dry seeds. They are soaked, cooked and
utilized in many dishes, the most popular being "Homos Bethenah" which is a
dish served in most homes and in all restaurants. Chickpea is also included in
some small industries.
Jordan imports relatively large quantities of this crop (Table I); in some years
imports have been valued at about one million US dollars.
Ascochyta Blight and Winter Sowing
The history of ascochyta blight on chickpea in Jordan is not well documented.
Pathologists believe that the disease has existed for many years. Severe outbreaks
on chickpeas have not been reported. The main reason is that farmers
grow chickpea as a spring crop in March-April, when the disease incidence is
largely reduced.
It is very difficult to estimate the losses due to this disease, since many factors
are responsible for ,he low yields; some of these are late planting, Heliothis
damage and the very primitive cultural practices used by the farmers.
In Jordan it seems that farmers delay planting to avoid "cold damage", (which
is their interpretation of the disease). They are aware that "cold damage" is
associated with early sowing. None of the farmers is aware that the damage is
caused by ascochyta blight.
This year, demonstration trials were conducted in three parts of Jordan in
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