CHARACTERISTICS OF LESS COMMON LEGUME CROPS AND THEIR CULTIVATION PROSPECTS IN THE DONETSK REGION

The research of economically valuable plants of the Fabaceae family in the collection of the Donetsk Botanical Garden was aimed of characterizing the bioeconomic features of species and varieties of grain legumes, vegetables and forage crops, namely Cicer arietinum L., Glycine max L. Merr., Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, Lathyrus lacteus (М. Bieb.) Wissjul., L. sativus L., Lens culinaris Medik., Trigonella coerulea (Desr.) Ser., T. foenum-graecum L., Phaseolus vulgaris Savi., P. multiflorus Wild., Vicia faba L., Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz. in view of their suitability for cultivation in the steppe zone of the Russian Federation. When grown in steppe conditions, plants are characterized by full developmental cycles, full-fledged seeds and hardiness to short-term moisture deficits. The vegetation period is from 100 to 120 days. Biomorphological and economic characteristics of crops correspond to the standard for agricultural plants. The research shows good cultivation prospects and presents specific open-field agricultural technology for 11 uncommon crops. The economic characteristics of 2 domestic, 5 foreign varieties and 4 selection forms suitable for growing in the regional natural and climatic conditions, namely P. vulgaris (`Little Red Riding Hood', `Purple Queen', `Borlotto di Vigevano', `Canadian Wonder', `Yin Yang', selected specimens Gyori-D3 и Jates-D1) and Vicia faba (`Green Hangdaln', `Dolce', selected forms Belgian White and Italian Green). Crop maturity is 55-75 days for bush beans, up to 80 days for semi-climbing beans and up to 110 days for climbing beans, seed yield is 1.7-2.30 kg/m2. Technical maturity of V. faba varieties is 56-60 days, seed yield is 0.28-0.47 kg/m2. Growing Lathyrus lacteus in ex situ conditions is one of the ways of its conservation and introduction into the economic plant range of the steppe zone.

legumes, steppe zone, cultivar, seed, crop maturity, yield