Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to select well-adapted, yield and high-green cob maize varieties with the preference of farmers and extension experts for wag-lasta maize producing areas under irrigation season.

Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in areas of wag-lasta for one irrigation season in two representative environments of the mandate areas. Five improved maize varieties were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications by using surface furrow irrigation.

Results: Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) among varieties in most traits of days to tasseling, cob length, fresh biomass, total cob weight and weight of cob were observed. In each location farmers select their best varieties in line with the criteria, number of cob per plant, cob length, earliness, and Vegetative performances. Based on farmer preference, BH549 and BH546 were selected as top varieties in both locations. Based on the result of the combined analysis varieties BH549 and BH546 scored the top in terms of both green cob and grain yield.

Conclusion: It was concluded that varieties BH549 (6024.7kg/ha) and BH546 (5761.1kg/ha) are best performing and profitable for  green cob production and selling  which are superior over the overall mean across location and other tested varieties.

Statistics