Evaluation of Released Taro (Colocasia esculenta(L.) Schott) Varieties on Growth and Yield Performance in SWE

Abstract

Taro is globally the second most important staple root crop after sweet potato in terms of consumption and is ranked fourth root crop after cassava, potato, and sweet potato in terms of its production by weight. But lack of well adapted varieties are one of a production problems that account for low yield, and small area cropped to the nation. Thus it is essential to evaluate such genotypes, which have high yield potential and are suitable to local environmental conditions. Therefore, field experiment were conducted at Semen-Bench, Chena and Yeki woreda of Bench-sheko, Kafa and Sheka zone respectively during 2018 and 2019 main cropping seasons with the objective of improving the production and productivity of taro at Bench-Maji, Sheka and Kaffa Zone through evaluation and selection of high yielding taro varieties. The study comprised of three improved and one local taro varieties laid out in RCBD with three replications at each location. The growth and yield data were collected and analyzed by using SAS Version 9.2 statistical software. The result of the study revealed that all of the parameters considered were significantly (P<0.01) affected by varieties at all locations. Accordingly, at Semen-Bench combined analysis over years indicated that highest leaf number per plant, plant diameter, corm diameter, root number per plant and root yield were observed for Boloso-1 variety. Highest value of number of suckers per plant was also observed for Boloso-1 variety in both years at semen Bench. Similarly, combined analysis over years indicated highest leaf number per plant and root yield for Boloso-1 variety at Chena. Likewise, tallest plant, highest number of suckers per plant, plant diameter, root diameter, and root number per plant were observed for Boloso-1 variety at Chena in both growing seasons. At Yeki, combined analysis over years indicated that highest stand count, plant height, leaf number per plant, and plant diameter, were observed for Boloso-1 variety. Highest number of suckers per plant, plant, root diameter, root number per plant and root yield were observed for Boloso-1 variety at Yeki in both growing seasons. However, root length was Highest for local variety for Chena in both growing seasons and in combined analysis over years for Semen Bench. This result also showed a yield difference across locations where highest value recorded at Semen Bench(22.34t/ha) followed by Yeki[18.38 t/ha in 2018 and 17.45 t/ha in 2019] and Chena(12.63 t/ha) locations for Boloso-1 variety. Based on the mean total root yield of locations and different yield evaluation methods, high yielding variety was identified. Accordingly, boloso-1 variety performed best at all locations. Therefore, this variety can play a vital role in food self-sufficiency and food security of southern region and it should be widely distributed to farmers of the testing locations and similar areas of the region