Performance evaluation of Medium maturing soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill) varieties under irrigation in north wester Ethiopia

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 off seasons at Pawe Agricultural Research Center irrigation site of Duhuans Baguna substation, to select high yielder and best performing soybean varieties under irrigation, to generate information about the varietal performance and widen the production options to investors and smallholder farmers in addition to rainfed. The experiment consisting eight medium maturing soybean varieties and was done using randomized complete block design with three replications. The result revealed that there was highly significant difference in days to flowering, and 100 seed weight among the tested varieties. The variety was significantly interacted with year in days to flowering, and numbers of branches plant^-1. Two-year combined results of grain yield were ranged from 1909.6 to 2615 kg ha^-1. The highest grain yield was obtained by Cheri (2615) followed by Wello (2607.4 kg ha^-1) whereas Davies (1909.6 kg ha^-1) and Crawford (2026.4 kg ha^-1) were recorded the lowest grain yield, respectively. Therefore, the variety Cheri, and Wello are recommended for production under irrigation in northwestern Ethiopia and similar agricultural ecologies.