Performance Evaluation and Selection of Improved Food Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties for their Adaptability in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in three districts of West Hararghe Zone at Gemechis (Quni segeria FTC), Chiro (Arbarakate FTC) and Tullo (Gara qufa FTC) in 2018 cropping season in order to identify and promote well performed and adapted improved barley variety/s. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Ten (10) improved barley varieties including local check were used as experimental materials. The most important data of the trial like days to50% flowering, Days to maturity, plant height, spike length, diseases, Plant aspect and yield qt ha-1 were collected and analyzed using Genstat 16th edition statistical software and means were separated using least significance difference. Almost most parameters (Days to heading, days to maturity, spike length and grain yield) analysed from individual location were significantly affected due to the main effect of both locations and Environments. Combined analysis of data revealed that, varieties varied significantly at (P<0.05) for all traits. From the overall analysed data, HB1307 and Bentu were the two varieties showed relatively better yield with a value of 46.55 and 44.07 qtha-1 respectively. HB1965, Shage and Abdane were the least performing varieties interms of grain yield having a value of 37.43, 36.83 and 38.63 qt ha-1 respectively. Generally, HB1307 and Bentu were the two varieties showed better performance with their mean yield and other measured traits. Therefore, these two varieties were recommended to be demonstrated under farmers’ field for further scaling up.