Performance Evaluation of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Varieties in the Lowlands Area of Wag Lasta, North Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Eight  released sorghum varieties were evaluated in four environments in the Wag-himra and Lasta in main production season for two years (2016 and 2017). The objective of the trial was to identify high yielder sorghum varieties that possesses farmers preferred traits for production in both testing sites . The trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The GGE statistical model was used for analyzing genotype by environment interaction GEI and to assess the stability of sorghum variety for grain yield. A combined analysis of variance for grain yield and yield related traits showed that the main effects of both genotypes and environments, and the interaction effect, were highly significant (P ≤ 0.001). The mean values of grain yield ranged from 1300 kg ha-1 (Dagim)  to 2800 kg ha-1 (Melkam) with the overall mean  values of 2100 kg ha-1. Based on the GGE biplot analysis, high yielding variety Melkam (2800 kg ha-1) showed better performance stability across the test environments. In addition, the result of participatory variety selection (PVS) revealed that Melkam ranked first and second preferred sorghum variety in Lasta and Waghimira agro-ecologies, respectively. We recommend, therefore, Melkam for production in both agro-ecologies and similar areas of the country. This variety will play a role in enhancing farmers’ income through improved grain yield, especially in the dry lowlands areas of Wag-himra and Lasta.

Keywords: Farmer preferred trait, GGE, PVS, stability, yield

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-7-05

Publication date: April 30^th 2020