Abstract

Teame Gereziher, Ephrem Seid and Lemma Diriba

Field experiment were conducted at Enda mekoni woreda (Mekan farmers training center), northern part of Ethiopia with the objective to assess and select faba bean varieties for high yield and other agronomic traits through involvement of farmer’s participation during the main cropping season of 2014. Four released varieties with one local check were laid out in Randomized complete block design in three replications. The plot size of the trial was 4 m x 2.4 m with 40 cm between rows and 10 cm among plants. 1 m among plots and 1.5 m between replications maintained. Agronomic and farmer selection data were collected and analyzed. From all the tested varieties, variety Dosha was superior in grain yield (3891 kg ha-1 ) followed by Tumsa (3437 kg ha-1 ) variety. The lowest grain yield was obtained from Gora (2146 kg ha-1 ) while Local variety yielded (2503 kg ha-1 ). In case of farmer evaluation Dosha score higher mean value (4.67) followed by Tumsa (4.16) and least mean value was recorded from variety Gora (3.00) variety. Thus, based on farmer’s evaluation and researcher’s selection, Dosha and Tumsa varieties were found promising under Enda mekoni condition. Therefore, farmers to be found at the study district are recommended to use those varieties to raise faba bean production.