Participatory evaluation of lentil varieties in Wag-lasta, Eastern Amhara

Abstract

Lentil is an important legume crop which has the ability in nitrogen fixation, and grow in marginal environments, but its productivity is very low in Wage-lasta areas due to lack of improved varieties. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in three places of district Wag-Lasta (Lalibela, Dehana and Hamusite). On both station and farmer’s field in 2016 to evaluate the performance of improved lentil varieties. Seven improved lentil varieties including the local check were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications at each location as mother trial. Three Farmers’ fields in each testing location were used for varietal evaluation considering each farm as a replication. Farmers have evaluated at two different growth stages by setting their own criteria. Except the primary branch per plant and seed per pod other parameters showed significant differences at (P ≤ 0.01) significant level. The promising varieties Derash (1120 kg ha−1, 1460 kg ha−1 and 1060 kg ha−1) and Danbi (1090 kg ha−1, 1350 kg ha−1 & 1030 kg ha−1) were the highest yielders at Lalibela, Dehana and Hamusite, respectively. Therefore, based on the farmer’s evaluation and researcher’s selection, varieties Derash and Danbi had selected and recommended for production in the selected districts and similar agro-ecologies.

Keywords

• lentil
• mother trial
• participatory
• productivity