Article

Evaluation of Groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)] Varieties for Yield and Yield Components at Jinka, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted research field of Jinka Agricultural Center, South Omo Zone, Southern Ethiopia using seven groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)] varieties under rainfed conditions from 2019 to 2020 main cropping seasons. The objective of the study was to select the best performing groundnut varieties in the target area. In this study, six improved groundnut varieties Werer 961, Bahajuid, Fetene, Babile, Robe, Werer-962 and one local check were included. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The data on growth parameters yield and yield-related traits were collected and analyzed using the general linear model procedures of SAS software Version 9.1. The combined analysis of variance results showed that there were significant variations observed among the tested varieties for all the studied traits except the number of primary branches per plant. Based on the combined result, grain yield ranged from 1724.052 (kg ha-1) for variety Robe to 2763.558 (kg ha-1) for Werer-962. The effect of varieties on grain yield was significant and the best performing varieties namely Werer-962 (2763.558 kg ha-1) and Bahajuid (1979.226 kg ha-1) could be recommended for the target area and other similar agro-ecologies even though further study is required over years and over locations.

Keywords: Groundnut, parameters, grain yield, varieties