Adaptations of Exotic Barley Genotypes to Low-moisture Environments in Southern Ethiopia

Barley is commonly cultivated in marginal areas of Ethiopia where the production of other cereals is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate introduced barley cultivars in low moisture areas at Halaba and Enseno districts of southern Ethiopia. Five introduced barley genotypes and a standard check (‘Gabula’) were tested in 2010 and 2011 main cropping seasons using RCBD with four replications. Seeds were drilled in rows at the rate of 85 kg ha -1. Data on days to heading, maturity, disease score, lodging, plant height, spike length and spikelets spike-1, seed spike-1 and grain yields were taken. Significant differences among genotypes were observed for all traits except disease at Halaba and plant height at Enseno in 2010. In 2011 significant differences were observed among genotypes for all traits at both locations. The results of combined analysis over years and locations on grain yield showed a highly significant difference in year by location and treatment, and location by treatment interactions. In 2010, the yield of genotypes at Halaba ranged from 0.62 to 1.78 t ha-1 which was low even though there were significant differences among genotypes and in 2011 ‘Aquila’ was earlier to head than the standard check ‘Gabula’. At Enseno ‘Aquila’ (4.69 t ha-1), ‘Millennium’ (3.2 t ha-1) and ‘Xena’ (2. 99 t ha-1) out yielded the standard check ‘Gabula’ (2.38 t ha-1 ). In both years the performance and yield of the genotypes were better at Enseno. Generally, the exotic varieties gave higher yield in low moisture areas of Halaba and Enseno districts