Journal of Genetics and Genomes

Farmer Participatory Evaluation of Agronomic performance of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L) in the high land of Wollo, North eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Akalu Gebru* and Firew Mekbib

Malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important industrial crop and highly demanded due to the expansion of brewery factories in the country and the unique nature of the grain for malt. However, its production and productivity is very low compared to other countries due to limited numbers of high yielding malt barley varieties, partial use of agronomic and production and low genetic base due to these farmers were highly resistance to produce malt barley in north eastern Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to identify malt barley varieties preferred by farmers. Seventeen varieties were evaluated in participatory variety selection (PVS) using RCB design, in Eastern Amhara. The varieties differed significantly for most of the characters and had wide range of mean values, which indicated the existence of variations among the tested varieties. Participatory variety selection was done using pair wise ranking and direct matrix ranking methods. It provides an opportunity to the farmers for variety selection and creates a chance to adopt the new selected varieties easily. Variety HB-1533, IBON174/03, EH-1847 and Friegbs scores the highest yield and highly preferred by farmers which perk up by the community. The above varieties were selected for further multiplication, seed dissemination.