Diversity, distribution, agronomic and post-harvest management of local barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) variety in South Wollo, Ethiopia.

The structure of barley varieties were studied, using structured and semi-structured queries, at Legambo, Tenta and Worailu districts of South Wollo, Ethiopia. Eight local barley varieties (Belg, Ginbot, Sene/Nech, Tikur, Holker, Traveler Tegadime and Temezhi) were identified, and got their names found on seed color and planting season. According to farmers, Tegadime is the production leader among all, but the source of seeds and the market chain are the limiting factors for its popularity and this is why it's not famous is because of the low price of the seed. Thus, Sene/Nech found to be popular and shared 46.91% at Tenta, 48.47% at Legambo and 51.55% at Wereilu followed by Tikur and Ginbote. High barley diversity was noted at Tenta (E = 0.773) followed by Wereilu (E = 0.678) and Legambo (E = 0.606). Sene/Nech (0.67), Belg (0.62), Tegadime (0.59), Tikur (0.55) and Ginbote (0.54) were found to be shared, but Traveler, Holker and Temezhi were rarely found. At farm, most farmers were plowing twice before sowing using horse. Biological fertilizer usages were well practice at Tenta, Legambo and Were'ilu, respectively. While, inorganic fertilizer usage was better at Wereilu, but none at Legambo. Pest management was better at Wereilu and hand weeding is a common system, but low at Legambo, and mowing by sickle, threshing by horse and store in Gotera were a shared practice. Farmers use outdated tools for agricultural practice and the yield is losing due to unavailable of update machinery. So, different managing approaches and new harvesting technologies should address.

Participatory variety selection for released white common bean varieties in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.

Participatory variety selection plays a vital role in adopting improved crop varieties into a new growing area. Farmers' preferences across locations and growing seasons must be taken into account to introduce improved varieties that farmers will accept. Evaluating improved common bean varieties in specific agro-ecologies is a key activity to enhance the productivity of the crop. The purpose of this study was to identify adapted, high-yielding, disease-resistant, and farmers' preferred white common bean varieties in the south Gondar zone, Ethiopia. Seven released white common bean varieties were evaluated in the mother and baby trial system using Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times during the 2019 cropping season at the farmers' field of Libokemkem and Simada districts. Seed shape, maturity days, disease reactivity, pod number/plant, and seed number/pod were utilized as variety selection criteria during field observation to determine varieties preferred by farmers. The results revealed that among the evaluated varieties, Awash-2 (1722.7 kg ha-1) and Awash-1 (1509.8 kg ha-1) produced considerably higher yield at Libokemkem whereas Awash-Melka (3888.1 kg ha-1), Batu (3697.6 kg ha-1), Awash-2 (3463.9 kg ha-1), Mexican-142 (3455.6 kg ha-1) and Awash-1 (3235.3 kg ha-1) were found as high-yielding varieties at Simada. When comparing grain yields at both locations, Awash-2 and Awash-1 are consistently good yielder varieties, which is one of the most important features for the farmers. Based on the farmers' preference, Awash-2 was consistently preferred and selected by the farmers across the two locations. Awash-2 is consistent both in the amount of grain yield and its acceptance by the farmers across the two locations and is suggested as a promising variety that needs to be promoted, multiplied, and disseminated to the farmers of the study areas for cultivation. Assessment of the varieties for Anthracnose and web blight diseases showed no or little and insufficient economic injury and the varieties were generally categorized as less susceptible and intermediate in their response to the diseases.