Participatory Variety Selection for Released Kabuli Type Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Varieties in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Participatory variety selection plays a vital role in adopting improved crop varieties into a new growing area. Farmers' preferences across locations and growing seasons must be taken into account to introduce improved varieties that farmers will accept. Evaluating improved chickpea varieties in specific agro-ecologies is a key activity to enhance the productivity of the crop. The purpose of this study was to identify adapted, high-yielding, disease-resistant, and farmers' preferred white chickpea varieties in the south Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Five Kabuli-type chickpea varieties with one local check were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications replicated three times during the 2019/2020 cropping season at the farmers' field of Libokemkem and Simada districts. The environment by variety interaction analysis showed a highly significant difference at high significant (P< 0.01) difference for genotypes implying that there is a best-fit cultivar independently for each location. The study also revealed that in some cases the researchers' selection criteria were identical to farmers' preferences. These parameters include Disease reaction, Branch number, pod size, adaptability, and early maturity. Hence, including farmers' preferences in a variety selection process is paramount important. The results revealed that among the evaluated varieties, Akuri and Habru (2116.9 kg ha^-1) and (2021.9ha^-1) produced considerably higher yields at Libokemkem and Akuri and Habru (2037.5ha^-1), (2025.9 kg ha^-1) were found as high-yielding varieties at Simada. The combined grain yield of over location also (2077kg ha^-1) and 2038.8ha^-1) for Akuri and Habru Respectively. Accordingly, the highest grain yield in the Simada district was revealed by Akuri and Habru. While at Libokemkem; Akuri and Habru demonstrated top yield scores. Therefore, Akuri and Habru varieties were well adapted to the Simada and Libokemkem districts and similar agroecological zones of the western Amhara region.