ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BROAD BEANS GROWING FOR FORAGE PRODUCTION DEPENDING ON THE VARIETY

Rusinka Petkova, D. Pavlov, Tzenka Zhelyazkova, Stayka Laleva

Abstract
A field experiment was conducted with growing winter forage beans for grain, (fully) irrigated conditions, to determine its energy efficiency under the influence of six introduced varieties of various types of ecological origin. The experiment includes the following varieties: 1.Mearis Beaver (control-Ko); 2.Bulldog; 3.Burdon; 4.Mearis Beagle; 5.Webo; 6.Throws MS. The energy efficiency was calculated by applying a balance method (energy input/consumed and output/produced) by means of energy equivalents for all operations and biomass energy value as calculated through its chemical composition and digestibility. The energy efficiency of the winter forage beans depends on variety, varying in average from 8.84 for GE, 4.63 for ME and 2.66 for NE. The varieties Maeris Beaver and Throws MS show the most stable values of the parameters studied, regardless of the agro-meteorological conditions throughout the year. This variety contributes to the highest energy efficiency in the production of winter forage beans compared to other major factors of the agricultural technology applied, i.e. irrigation and fertilization.

Key words: winter forage beans, energy efficiency, variety