Performance Evaluation of Improved Maize (Zea Mays L.) Varieties at Debub Ari woreda of South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment involving seven improved and one local maize variety was carried out at Debub Ari woreda from 2018to 2019 main cropping seasons to identify the best performing variety to the midland areas of South Omo Zone. The midland maize varieties included in the field experiment were seven improved (SBRH, SPRH, Gibe-2, Gibe-3, BH546, BH547, BH548 and local check).Growth parameters and yield and yield components such as plant height, ear height, ear length, 100 seed weight and grain yield were studied. The combined analysis of variance results showed that there were significant variations observed among the maize varieties for all the studied traits. Plant height ranged from 203.5 (cm) for the variety GIBE-2 to 258.67 (cm) for the variety SBRH.  Ear length ranged from 21.5 (cm) for the local check to 26.5 (cm) for the variety BH548.  Hundred seed weight ranged from 32 (g) for the variety SPRH to 39.85 (g) for the variety BH547.Grain yield ranged from 6064 (kg ha^-1) for the local check to 8428.2(kg ha^-1) for the improved variety BH546. In this study, yield advantages of 28.05% and 19.21% were obtained from the improved maize varieties BH546 and BH547, respectively over the local check. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of the improved maize varieties such as BH546 or BH547is advisable and could be appropriate for midland maize production in the test area even though further testing is required to put the recommendation on a strong basis.

Key Words: Mid land maize, Growth Parameters, Grain Yield, Variety