Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Research
Open Access

Abstract

Evaluation of Stylosanthes Species and their Accessions for Herbage Yield in Two Agro-Ecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Western Ethiopia

Mulisa Faji*, Alemeyehu Abebe, Kedija Ahmed, Workene Tezera

Three Stylosanthes hamata accessions and one accession of S. scabra were evaluated for their agronomical performance under two environmental conditions of Benishangul-Gumuz region state, Western Ethiopia. The experiment was carried out at Kamash and Assosa Forage research station of Assosa agricultural research center and were purposively selected to represent lowland and mid-altitude agro-ecologies, respectively. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The general linear model procedures of SAS and least significance difference for data analysis and mean separation were employed, respectively. Environment was significantly (P<0.001) affecting dry matter yield, number of tillers, number of branches per plants and leaf to stem ratio. The highest forage dry matter yield was obtained at Assosa. The results of the combined analysis revealed that plant height at forage harvesting (P<0.05), number of tillers (P<0.01) and leaf to stem ratio (P<0.01) were significantly influenced by genotype. Taller plant height and higher leaf to stem ratio were obtained from Stylosanthes scabra 441. Leaf to stem ratio was significantly (P<0.01) different among genotypes of Assosa and the highest leave to stem ratio was recorded for Stylosanthes scabra 441. The interaction effect of location and genotype was nonsignificant (P>0.05) for all measured parameters and this indicated consistency in the performance of the genotypes across the environment and this leads to conclude no need for assessing performance to identify Stylosanthes genotypes with stable and superior yield across the environments.

Published Date: 2024-06-19; Received Date: 2020-04-15