Participatory on farm evaluation of improved sorghum varieties in North Gondar areas of Ethiopia

• Main Authors: Berhanu Fentie Belay, Mesfin Fenta Wale
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
• Series: Cogent Food & Agriculture
• Subjects: participatory evaluation; selection; high yielder; stable; sorghum; varieties
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2021.1871809

Participatory varietal selection (PVS) were conducted at Dembia, Gondarzuria and Takusa midland districts of North Gondar during 2015–2016 main cropping seasons to evaluate and select improved sorghum varieties for high yield and other agronomic traits. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analysis of variance showed highly significant among treatments of all traits. Environment and Genotype by Environment Interaction also contributed significant effect on performance of some yield components. The highest average grain yield was recorded from the variety IS9302 (2635 kg/ha) followed by Birmash (2537 kg/ha) across locations. Four parametric stability methods including: Lin and Binns’s Cultivar Performance Measure (Pi), Wricke’s Ecovalence (WI), Static stability and GGbiplot methods that consider both yield and stability were conducted. Based on those parameters genotype IS9302 showed high mean yield and stability across locations. Participant farmers’ prioritized seven traits: head size, panicle length, earliness, grain color, disease and pest tolerance, stalk vigor and plant height. Hence, farmer’s preferences in a variety selection process more prioritized yield-related traits. The best varieties ranked by traits of interest were IS9302, Dagem and Birmash that performed well under their circumstances. Hence, the results showed that farmers’ preferred varieties matches with researchers’. Therefore, based on objectively measured traits, farmers preferences and the agro ecologies of the site varieties IS9302, Dagem and Birmash were found promising for production in the mid altitude of North Gondar and similar agro ecologies.