Asian Journal of Research and Review in Agriculture

Barley is one of the principal cereal crops grown in diverse agro-ecologies in Ethiopia. Six food barley varieties and the local check were laid out in RCBD with three replications at Bule and Gedeb Research Sub Centers. The experiment was done at Bule in 2022 and 2023, whereas at Gedeb in 2022 only. The objective of this study was to evaluate and select better-adapted food barley varieties tested at selected districts of Gedeo Zone of South Ethiopia. In this study, three wide and one specific adaptable variety were identified, and the evaluated barley varieties showed variation in phenology, agronomic, and yield, and yield component traits. Generally, mean grain yield across locations indicated that three varieties were significantly out-yielding the local check, viz, variety Walashe, HB 1965, and HB 1966, which gave better grain yield 3817.06, 3780.42, 3589.58 kg ha^-1, respectively, than the studied varieties. These adapted and top-yielding varieties gave a yield advantage of 21.3, 20.1, and 14.0 percent, respectively, compared to the local check. Therefore, those high-yielding and wide-adaptable varieties across locations would be recommended for production in the tested areas and similar agro-ecologies of South Ethiopia highlands. For a specific adaptation variety, Abdane was one of the high-yielding varieties at Gedeb areas but not high-yielding variety across locations, and can be recommended for production in its specific niche where it is best-suited. Promotions of recently released barley varieties those were high-yielding and adapted to the tested locations are important for barley-growing farmers to easily access them and to increase the production and productivity of barley. Based on the observed yield performance, the three widely adaptable barley varieties, viz Walashe, HB 1965, and HB 1966, would be popularized and scaled up in the tested areas and barley growing agro-ecologies of South Ethiopia.