Green Lane NGO: Research Projects

Research Projects

RESEARCH ON VAVILOVIA FORMOSA

Since 2007, the Green Lane Agricultural Assistance NGO is a member of the Grain Legumes Technology Transfer Platform (GL TTP). In 2009 – 2010, with support from GL TTP, Green Lane is implementing a research project aiming at studying and ex situ conservation of Vavilovia Formosa plant species. Vavilovia Formosa (Pisum formosum) is a native of the Caucasus and is of interest to taxonomists because of its perennial nature and close relationship with Pisum. Within the framework of the project, the specialists from Green Lane NGO together with the researchers of the Scientific and Research Institute of Botany made scientific expeditions to the areas of habitation of this species in Syunik region of Armenia. As a result of fruitful collaboration with researchers from Serbia, Czech Republic, UK, Russia and Turkey a number of scientific articles have been produced and published in international scientific magazines.

Read the Articles:

Achievements in Research on Vavilovia (Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed.), a Legume Crop Wild Relative
By: Aleksandar Miki Petr Smýkal ! Gregory Kenicer ! Nune Sarukhanyan ! Janna Akopian, Ivan Gabrielyan ! Armen Vanyan ! Andrey Sinjushin ! Natalia Demidenko ! Branko "upina ! Vojislav Mihailovi ! Margarita Vishnyakova ! Mike Ambrose
Wild pea, Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed.(Fabaceae) insituinvestigation in Armenia
by N.G. SARUKHANYAN1, J. A. AKOPIAN2, I. G. GABRIELYAN2, A.G. VANYAN3
An ecogeographical study and reports on establishing an ex situ site for 'beautiful' vavilovia (Vavilovia formosa) in Armenia
Authors: Janna Akopian, PhD; Nune Sarukhanyan, PhD; Ivan Gabrielyan, PhD; Armen Vanyan, PhD; Aleksandar Mikic, MSc; Petr Smýkal, PhD; Gregory Kenicer, PhD; Margarita Vishnyakova, PhD; Andrey Sinjushin, PhD; Natalia Demidenko, PhD; Mike Ambrose, PhD
A revival of the Research on beautiful Vavilovia Formosa (Vavilovia Formosa syn. Pisum Formosum)
Authors: Aleksandar Mikic, Petr Smýkal,; Janna Akopian, Nune Sarukhanyan, Ivan Gabrielyan, Armen Vanyan, Toker, Mikhaylovich V, Ellis N.

TRAILS AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW CHICKPEA VARIETIES

In 2005, the Action Against Hunger Foundation found it reasonable and important to support our project related to growing and introduction of legume crops in Sissian area.

Seeds of legumes contain a big amount of proteins and are used as food and feed. These crops, as source of plant protein and soil enrichment, are of great importance for human consumption. In addition, they are considered as the best preceding crops for nearly all crops.

Taking into account that in all marzes of Armenia, including Sissian area of Syunik marz, the yield of cereal crops depend on a number of factors (including the lack of crop rotation), during 2005-2006, through funding by the Action Against Hunger and direct support by the Green Lane, chickpea growing activities were organized.

Chickpea was selected because it is the most drought and cold resistant crop among the legumes. The local Leninakani 313 and another 6 varieties from the range of over 100 world varieties provided by the Agriculture Plant Protection Research Center were used for trials. Four of the tested varieties will be introduced this year. The project has been supported by the Minister of Agriculture and by agricultural specialists.

PASTURE IMPROVEMENT AS A PRIORITY

In livestock breeding, feeding of animals is one of the main components of management. However, Armenia has a tough feed base. In such conditions, proper care is critical. The pasture land management is poorly and not viably organized. Over the last 15 years, almost no work in maintenance and rehabilitation of natural meadows has been carried out.

In 70% of the natural meadows, animals were provided with drinking water. Today, the level of water availability is no more than 10%. In the northeast, the meadows were definitely damaged by the earthquake, while in other places, especially in the south - everything was destroyed during the privatization process. Today, we receive only 2 tonnes of grass per one hectare at most, while this amount could be as high as 4-5 tonnes. Undesirable vegetation has grown in these areas, and nothing has been done to prevent it. No doubt, yields have decreased.

Based on the situation, the Green Lane, jointly with the Sissian-based Action Against Hunger foundation, implemented surface improvement works on 10 hectares in the village of Balak, Sissian area. High quality seeds of four types of grass as well as manual seedsowing machines were provided for the farmer of the community. In addition, seminars on pasture improvement topics have been conducted. In this stage, improvement of natural medows and pastures is a priority. This is the reason why the Green Lane is planning to implement similar projects in other villages of Sissian area in future.

ORGANIC METHODS FOR PEST, WEED AND DISEASE CONTROL

In 2004, the USDA Marketing Assistance Project funded two small grant programs for introducing weed and disease organic control methods - “Weed control with vinegar solution” and “Disease control with baking soda solution”. The projects were completed in 2005, but to ensure validity and adequacy of the obtained results, the Green Lane team continued research in the next two years and developed new technologies that are now effectively used by farmers.

In addition, efficiency of the pest control with garlic solution has been tested in 2005-2006 in cooperation with the researchers from the Scientific Centre for Agriculture and Plant Protection as well as with the members of the Research and Advisory Farmer Group of Jrahovit village (Ararat region). The results obtained dispelled the farmers’ doubts about the efficiency of the non-conventional organic methods for disease and weed control and convinced them of the possibility to solve the problems they face through practical cooperation with researchers and scientists.

CROP VARIETY TESTING

Four newly introduced chickpea varieties tested by the Green Lane and Action Against Hunger International Foundation teams have been recommended for variety zonation in Armenia. In addition, our specialists have tested two bean varieties already listed in the National Register of Crop Varieties . Both varieties are disease and pest resistant and are recommended for growing in organic farming systems.

ASSESSMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Green Lane is cooperating with the Agricultural Support Republic (National) Center in implementation of the small-scale projects for assessment of new agrarian technologies. Under these projects, our specialists work towards introduction of new legume cultivation technologies and more effective methods for disease and pest control as well as crop variety testing.

AZOTOVIT: ORGANIC FERTILIZER

GL members working at the Yerevan State University and the Research Center for Vegetable Crops have studied and estimated the impact of AZOTOVIT organic fertilizer upon the growth and productivity of different crops.