Agriculture

In case of hydroponic production of grape saplings:

• 8-10 times more saplings are obtained from the unit surface;
• period of standard saplings’ obtainment (7 months or one vegetation period) is reduced about 2 times;
• due to their lush growth and high content of reserve nutrients hydroponic saplings provide high sticking ability (about 90%) in the newly planted garden and are distinguished with good growth in the first year of planting;
• through the regulation and control of watering and nutrition regimes the process of branches stiffening becomes maximum controllable;
• the hard works of soil cultivation completely disappear, which makes possible the dense planting of cuttings (8-10 times);
• it is possible to obtain 400-500 thousand grape saplings from 1 ha hydroponic surface

a) Preparation for exploitation of hydroponic nursery with 2,3 ha total (or 1 ha nourished) surface- about USD 20.800 (only in the 1st year), 
b) Planting of cuttings (the price of cuttings is not included as it will be provided by the customer), care and exploitation of hydroponic nursery (salary, economical and other expenses) - about USD 84.200
Total - USD 105.000

To organize saplings soilless production of grape various sorts (Tavrizeni, Arakseni White, Black Sateni and from Sultana varieties Pink Yerevani etc.) in Etchmiadzin hydroponic nursery of the Institute (with 2,3 ha total or 1 ha nourished surface) on joint, mutually beneficial basеs.
It is also recommended 2 more ways for the grape saplings production:
a) 25000-30000 pcs, in Yerevan hydroponic experimental station of the Institute, on approximately 600 m2 hydroponic surface. The required investment is USD 6.300, the annual profitability is 17%.
b) 100-120 thousand pcs, in case of exploitation only ¼ nourished part (2500 m2) of Etchmiadzin nursery. The required investment is USD 26.000, the annual profitability is 17%.

Albert Hovsepyan, Deputy Director of G.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems of NAS RA
E-mail: hydrop {[ at ]} netsys.am
Tel.: (+374 10) 562805, (+374 91) 006052

Anna Tadevosyan, Deputy Director of G.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems of NAS RA
E-mail: anntadevosyan {[ at ]} yahoo.com
Tel.: (+374 10) 563015, (+374 91) 243151