Participatory on Farm Evaluation of Improved Maize Varieties in Chilga District of North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Participatory variety selection (PVS) trials were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Chilga district of North West Ethiopia to evaluate the performance of improved maize (Zea mayz L.) varieties and to assess farmers’ criteria for maize variety selection for future maize improvement. Six improved varieties including the local check were used for the study at four farmer villages: Anguaba, Serako and Eyaho. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and the trials were replicated over farmers’ field in the three villages. The results of analysis revealed that a significant difference among the varieties for most the agronomic traits recorded except for grain yield which was not significant. With regard to location, no significant difference was observed for the majority of the traits except plant height and ear height indicating similarity in agro ecologies of the three villages. The results also revealed that farmers’ preferences in some cases coincide with the researchers’ selection. However, in general farmers have shown their own way of selecting a variety for their localities. These parameters include earliness, drought tolerance, grain yield, vigorousity, husk cover, cob size, grain color and grain size. Hence, it is a paramount important to include farmers’ preferences in a variety selection process. Therefore, based on objectively measured traits, farmers’ preferences and the agro ecologies of the site the varieties BH-540 and BHQPY-545 are recommended in the study area. The variety BHQPY-545 should be given high attention by the responsible body since it has quality protein content besides having favored traits in the study area