Performance Evaluation and Adaptation of Food Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Varieties in the Highlands of North Gondar Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, barley is also one of the oldest cultivated crops and currently it is the fifth most important cereal crop next to maize, tef, sorghum, and wheat and the study was conducted at Debark, Dabat and Wogera in 2014/15 main season with the objectives of identify high yielder food barley varieties using seven improved food barley varieties including local check in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. At Debark, the analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference (p≤0.01) among treatment means for days to heading, plant height and thousand seed weight. Significant difference at (p≤0.05) also observed among treatments for Maturity days, spike length, biomass and grain yield. The mean grain yield ranged from 3403kg/ha-5143kg/ha. Highest mean grain yield was recorded from variety HB-1307 (5143kg/ha), EH1493 (4636kg/ha) CROSS41/98 (4184kg/ha) and lowest mean grain yield was recorded from variety AGEGNEHU (3403kg/ha). At Dabat, the analysis of variance showed that significant difference (p≤0.05) for days to maturity, seeds per spike and thousand seed weight. The rest parameters exhibited non-significant difference among varieties. At Wogera, the analysis of variance showed highly significant difference at (p≤0.01) among tested varieties for days to maturity, spike length, seeds per spike, thousand seed weight and grain yield. Longest maturity days were recorded from variety CROSS-41/98 (124 days), while shortest maturity days were recorded from variety AGEGNEHU (112 days). The mean grain yield ranged from 2015kg/ha-5008kg/ha. At Wogera highest mean grain yield was recorded from variety HB-1307 (5008kg/ha) followed by CROSS41/98 (4416kg/ha). Over locations combined analysis of variances showed highly significant difference at (p≤0.01) among varieties for all yield and yield components except days to heading. The interaction of location by variety indicated that significant effect on biomass and grain yield. The rest yield components not affected by the interaction of genotype by location. Over location grain yield results ranged from 3641-4680 kg/ha. Lowest and highest grain yield were recorded on Local check (3641kg/ha) and HB-1307 (4680kg/ha), respectively. Therefore, HB-1307 and CROSS 41/98 recommended for seed production at highland areas of north Gondar and similar agro ecologies.