Evaluation of mung bean genotypes for seed yield and other yield related traits in low lands of South Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Cereal mono cropping is very common in low land areas of Southern zone of Tigray region of Ethiopia. Hence, low yield due to declined soil fertility and crop failure due to pests (Stalk borer and striga in sorghum and shoot fly in tef) are frequent. Mung bean or green gram can be an important crop for crop rotation to improve the soil fertility of the area and decrease the pest attack. Six mung bean genotypes were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications at wargiba peasant association, southern zone of Tigray region of Ethiopia at main season in 2012. Stand count after thinning and at maturity, days to maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and seed yield were collected and analyzed. Significant (P<0.05) differences among genotypes were observed for all response variables considered. The results indicated the potential for breeding efforts to improve the response variables studied. SM1-668 and bored were the late maturing genotypes with maturity dates of 71 and 70.7 days, respectively. The remaining genotypes (black bean, SMH-32, Gofa local and sheraro local) maturity dates ranged from 65.7 to 63 days. Bored showed maximum plant height (73.87cm) and SMH-32 was shorter (40.6cm) than the other studied genotype. Genotypes: SM1-668 and bored were significantly superior for grain yield (26.6 and 20.1 quintals per hectare, respectively) and are later to mature only by seven days than other genotypes. Therefore, these genotypes were promising for the study area. The rest other genotypes grain yield ranged between 3.2 to 4.8 quintals per hectare, which is only one fourth of the two selected genotypes’ grain yield. As this result is based on one location trial on a year, further validation of this result across years and over location is important. Keywords:, mono cropping, mung bean, crop rotation