Performance Evaluation of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Varieties for Yield and Related Traits in North-Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important cash crops in Ethiopia and plays a significant role in the agricultural and textile industrial development of the country’s economy. However, the progress in cotton production and productivity in rain-fed environments has been impeded by the absence of improved varieties and inadequate management practices. Presently, there are no recommended cotton varieties specifically tailored for rain-fed environments in northwestern Ethiopia, an area that is largely conducive to cotton cultivation. Interestingly, some investors have chosen to cultivate genotypes that have been recommended for irrigation purposes, particularly within the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. In the current investigation, an assessment was conducted on various cotton varieties in order to determine their quantitative traits during the primary cultivation period of 2017/2018 at Pawe Agricultural Research Centre. The objective of the experiment was to assess seven cotton genotypes using a randomized complete block design, with the aim of identifying genotypes that are highly adaptable and possess high-yielding characteristics. The statistical analysis of variance demonstrated a significant distinction among the traits that were examined. Within this study, the most productive genotypes were identified as Werer-05 and Candia, with yields of 1722.19 kg/ha and 1617.41 kg/ha, respectively. The observed variations in the characteristics of the various cotton varieties indicate the presence of diversity, which holds significant implications for future cotton breeding.