ADAPTATION AND PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION OF IMPROVED SORGHUM [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moenech] VARIETIES IN BENCH SHEKO AND SHEKA ZONES, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sorghum is one of the most dominant crops grown in Ethiopia as staple food. However, the contribution of the improved sorghum varieties is very low as farmers have no sufficient information about agronomic practices and economic importance of the released sorghum varieties that lead inadequate adoption of improved varieties. This study was conducted to identify best sorghum varieties that suit the study areas and also identify farmers’ selection criteria. Eleven lowland, seven midland and six highland improved varieties of sorghum along with farmers’ local cultivar from each representative site were evaluated in three replications with randomized complete block design under participatory scheme using farmers’ selection criteria in 2017/18 main cropping season at Tepi, Sheko and Masha locations of the region, respectively. Farmers’ set grain yield, earliness, bird damage resistance, disease resistance, insect pest tolerance and tillering capacity as selection criteria for lowland released sorghum varieties. The same criteria set by farmers except market price in place of tillering capacity for midland released sorghum varieties. Likewise, grain yield, grain size and color, disease resistance and earliness were farmers’ selected traits for the highland released sorghum varieties. The results of analysis of variance indicated the existence of significant differences among varieties for all traits tested at Sheko. Only panicle length per plant were non-significant at Masha and shako while highly significant variation observed among the varieties for all traits studied in Tepi. Based on the field experimental results the varieties Meko-1 and Yeju; RAYA and IS-9302; Alemaya- 70 and Chiro were the earliest varieties at Tepi, Sheko and Masha study sites, respectively. The highest mean grain yield were obtained from Melkam, Gambella-1107 and Misikir for the lowland; Dano, Lalo and Birmash for midland and ETS-2752, Chalanko and Muyra-1 for the highland varieties. Moreover, Melkam, Misikir and Gambella-1107 from lowland; Dano Lalo,and Birmash from midland as well as ETS-2752, Chelenko and Muyra-1 from highland improved sorghum varieties were identified as agronomical suited the area and also preferred from farmers evaluation. In conclusion, participatory varietal selection is a viable method to gain greater insight into farmers’ perceptions, preferences, knowledge, shortcomings and potentials of improved sorghum varieties. Based on the results of this study the identified and preferred varieties need to be multiplied and distributed to farmers through both formal and informal seed system.