Performance evaluation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties for grain yield and yield-related traits at Fogera district, northwestern Ethiopia

Alamir Ayenew Worku; Dejen Bekis Fentie; Solomon Sharie Shferaw

Authors

Alamir Ayenew Worku Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center, Woreta, Ethiopia
Dejen Bekis Fentie Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center, Woreta, Ethiopia
Solomon Sharie Shferaw Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center, Woreta, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Groundnut, pod yield, yield-related traits, genetic variability, adaptability

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a key oilseed and food crop in Ethiopia, but productivity remains below potential due to low-yielding varieties, suboptimal management, and environmental stresses. This study evaluated the performance of improved groundnut varieties in terms of phenology, growth, and yield traits to identify promising genotypes for northwestern Ethiopia. Field experiments were conducted in Fogera District during the 2022 and 2023 main cropping seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on phenological, growth, and yield traits were analyzed using combined ANOVA, correlation analysis, and mean performance comparisons. Significant variation (P ≤ 0.01) was observed among varieties for most traits, including days to maturity, plant height, number of primary branches, seeds per pod, biomass yield, pod yield, harvest index, unshelled yield, and hundred-grain weight, while shelling percentage showed a non-significant difference. Pod yield ranged from 1,208.7 kg ha⁻¹ (Senaf) to 3,221.6 kg ha⁻¹ (Werer961), with Babile4 and BaHaGudo also showing above-average yields combined with high biomass. Harvest index varied from 28.1% (Bulki01) to 59.1% (Babile4). Correlation analysis indicated that days to maturity were positively associated with plant height and biomass yield but negatively correlated with harvest index, while pod yield was moderately correlated with harvest index and strongly with unshelled yield. The study revealed substantial genetic variability and identified Werer961, Babile2, and Derib as promising varieties for improving groundnut productivity in northwestern Ethiopia.

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