Participatory variety selection of lentils by farmers for commercial production in districts of Legehida and Woreilu, Ethiopia

Major production constraints of lentil are lack of improved varieties that are adaptable and resistance to the major biotic and abiotic constraints in highland areas of Legehida and Woreilu district. Due to these farmers still produce a variety which is low yielder and highly susceptible to biotic and abiotic stress. Therefore; the objective of this experiment was to evaluate and recommend the best lentil varieties based on yield performance and farmers' preference selection. The research station and farmers' fields in Legehida and Woreilu in the south Wollo zone served as the study's sites. Using six local types and three replications, the design was RCBD. Farmers assessed and chose the varieties based on their criteria from the baby trial, which was conducted in the Mother (three replications) and Baby (one replication) trial forms. Farmers used disease resistance, grain yield, seed color, seed size, and biomass as selection factors to choose the best variety. The analysis results showed local variety had the highest yielder with average grain yield 2090.7kg/ha followed by Derash (1812kg/ha) and Alemayta (1610kg/ha) at both locations. Seed size trait was one of farmers' criteria to select best variety. Beredu scored the highest seed size with 32.8g of thousand seed weight, more than that of local variety (22.5g). Grain yield means performance ranged between 1300.4kg/ha – 2090.7kg/ha for Local and Adda varieties, respectively. Local variety scored the maximum grain yield, 2090.7kg/ha followed by Derash, 1812kg/ha and Alemaya, 1610kg/ha. Based on the farmers' selection process Local, Beredu, and Alemaya are highly preferred by farmers. Therefor; these demand-lead technologies should be popularized at the tested and similar agro-ecology of lentil-producing areas in the region