Adaptability Study of Malt Barley Varieties at High Land of Guji Zone, Southern Oromia

Abstract

Malt barley is the most important cereal crop grown in different parts of Ethiopia due to its nature of wide adaptation. However, access of this technology is highly limited in Guji Zone of Oromia. As a result this study was conducted to acquaint small holder farmers of the area with new technologies of malt barley production through selecting well performed, adaptable, high yielding ,diseases and insect resistance Malt barley varieties .The experiment was conducted during 2013 cropping season at Bore Agricultural Research Center at 3(three) locations(Bore on station, Alayo and Irba buliyo farmers field). For this purpose, 5(five) improved malt barley varieties were evaluated using RCBD design with three (3) replications on plot size of 3mx4m. In put application and agronomic practices were followed as per of national recommendation for malt barley. The study result revealed the presence of highly significant difference among varieties over the locations for the characters studied. The combined analyzed data show that Holker and Mascal-21 are high yielder than other varieties which is about 34 qt/ha and 33 qt/ha respectively. Therefore, based on the obtained study result three malt barley varieties i.e Holker and Mascal-21 are selected and recommended for areas having similar agro-ecologies with the study area.

Keywords: malt barley, brewery, Cereal crops, improved varieties