ZIMUS

ZIMUS is a winter pea variety (Pisum sativum L.) intended for grain production and adapted for direct combine harvesting. It belongs to the medium-early varieties with a vegetative period from 208 to 237 days, allowing it to ripen approximately 10-15 days earlier than the standard variety Phaeton. The plants are short-stemmed, ranging from 55 to 80 cm in height, with a vining leaf type, which contributes to lodging resistance and facilitates harvest. The seeds are light pink or light cream, round, smooth, and medium-large, with a 1000-seed weight from 176 to 240 g. The variety has a non-shattering seed trait, which significantly reduces losses during mechanized harvesting.

ZIMUS is characterized by high winter hardiness, comparable to winter wheat, and resistance to lodging and shattering. Due to frequent nodes in the lower part of the stem and a branched structure with two stems per plant, the variety demonstrates excellent resistance to adverse weather conditions. The flowers are white, and the pods are located primarily in the upper part of the stem, which further reduces grain losses during harvesting. Protein content in the grain reaches 23-23.4%, making it a valuable protein source for feed purposes.

Sowing is recommended in the last decade of October, with a sowing rate of about 1.4 million viable seeds per hectare. The variety shows high productivity—grain yield can reach 4.5–5.0 t/ha, which exceeds standard indicators by 15–30%. Due to low levels of anti-nutritive substances in the seeds, the grain does not require thermal treatment and can be used in the diet of various types of domestic animals as a quality supplement to soybean meal. ZIMUS is recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus and Krasnodar Krai regions, where it successfully demonstrates its agronomic and economic qualities.