Participatory evaluation of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in Low land Areas of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Participatory evaluation of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in Low land Areas of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Participatory evaluation of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in Low land Areas of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia Getachew Chanie, Kassahun Amare, Firnus Adugna This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Sorghum is a vital staple crop in the lowland areas of the South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, but its productivity is constrained by the use of late-maturing, low-yielding local varieties and limited access to improved seeds. This study evaluated the adaptation and farmer preference of seven improved lowland sorghum varieties and one local check across two districts (Ebinat and Simada) during the 2020/21 cropping season. The experiment used a mother-baby trial design, with researchers managing the replicated mother trials for agronomic data and farmers managing the baby trials for participatory evaluation. Results revealed highly significant (p < 0.01) differences among varieties for key agronomic traits. The varieties Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale were identified as high-yielding, with Melkam producing the highest grain yields (3980 kg ha⁻¹ in Simada and 4130 kg ha⁻¹ in Ebinat). Teshale was the earliest maturing variety. Through participatory evaluation using direct matrix and pair-wise ranking, farmers identified grain yield and earliness as their primary selection criteria, followed by striga resistance and biomass/tillering ability. Based on these criteria, farmers consistently preferred Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale, while Birhan and the local check were the least preferred. The study demonstrates that participatory varietal selection effectively identifies sorghum varieties that combine high yield potential with farmer-preferred traits, and recommends the promotion of Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale in the lowland areas of South Gondar and similar agro-ecologies. Improved Participatory variety selection Sorghum Variety Yield INTRODUCTION Sorghum ranks as the fifth most significant cereal crop globally, following wheat, rice, maize, and barley (FAOSTAT 2008). Renowned for its drought tolerance, it is a cornerstone of food and nutritional security for over 100 million people in the Eastern Horn of Africa (Gudu et al. 2013 ). In Ethiopia, sorghum is a vital staple crop, particularly for impoverished communities, and is utilized extensively with no part of the plant going to waste (Adugna 2007 ). It holds the position of the third most important cereal in the country, after teff and maize, in terms of both area cultivated and total production (CSA 2018). This is especially true in the lowland areas of the North Western Amhara region, where it is a dominant crop, accounting for 18% of the cereal area and 14.8% of total production (CSA 2018). The crop's wide adaptability to different climates and its low water requirements compared to other cereals make it a valuable resource for bolstering food and feed supplies (KARI 2007). Despite the release of over forty improved sorghum varieties in Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture 2013), only a limited number have seen sustained adoption by farmers in the Amhara Region. This limited uptake is primarily attributed to the scarcity of improved seed and the minimal involvement of farmers in the variety selection process. Conventional breeding methods often restrict farmer participation in technology development (Joshi and Witcombe 1996 ). As an alternative, Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) engages farmers directly in evaluating and selecting from released varieties. This approach has proven more successful than conventional systems in identifying a greater number of varieties that align with farmer preferences (Weltzien et al. 2003 ). In the Southern Gondar zone, specifically in Ebinat and Simada districts, sorghum productivity faces several constraints. Farmers predominantly cultivate low-yielding local varieties that have a long maturation period of 7–8 months. Other challenges include limited access to improved seeds, drought, weeds, insect pests, and birds. Consequently, there is a pressing need among farmers for new, drought-resilient, high-yielding varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted with the following objectives: to evaluate and identify the best-adapted lowland sorghum variety(s) for the specific conditions of the study area, and to determine the farmers' preferences and selection criteria for these varieties. 2.1 Description of the Study Area This research was conducted during the primary 2020/21 agricultural season in two key sorghum-producing areas of the South Gondar zone: the Ebinat and Simada districts. Ebinat district is geographically situated between 11°53'N to 12°5'N latitude and 37°42'E to 38°30'E longitude. It is bordered by the East Belesa, Farta, Bugna, and Libo Kemkem districts. The area's elevation varies from 1800 to 2150 meters above sea level and is characterized by three agro-ecological zones: kolla (50%), Woyina Dega (35%), and Dega (15%). According to available data, the region receives an average annual rainfall of between 500 mm and 1300 mm. Similarly, Simada district is located at approximately 11°30'N latitude and 38°15'E longitude, with a more dramatic altitudinal range of 1196 to 3525 meters above sea level. Its landscape is divided into middle altitude (40%), highland (10%), and lowland (50%) climatic zones. Meteorological records indicate that during the growing season, this district experiences rainfall levels from 736 to 770 mm and average temperatures of 13–15°C. The predominant soil types in Simada are Nitisol and Vertisol, which cover roughly 75% and 25% of the land area, respectively. These two districts were selected as study sites due to their recognized potential and prominence for sorghum cultivation. In addition to sorghum, the local agriculture in these areas includes crops such as maize, finger millet, teff, faba beans, and chickpeas. 2.2 Experimental Materials Table 1 List of improved sorghum varieties used as in the study areas during the 2021 cropping season Variety Year of release Pedigree Seed color Breeder Melkam 2009 WSV 387 White MARC/EIAR Kalu 2007 PGRC/E#69441 X P-9401 White SRARC/ARARI GIRANA-1 2007 CR: 35XDJ 1195 X N-13 White SRARC/ARARI Hormat 2005 ICSV 1112 BF White SRARC/ARARI Birhan 2002 Key # 8566 Reddish brown SRARC/ARARI Teshale 2002 3443-2-op White SRARC/ARARI and MARC/EIAR Gobiye 2002 P-9401 White MARC/EIAR Local -- -- White -- 2.3. Experimental Design and Field Operations The study employed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot measured 5.25 by 3.75 meters and between rows spaced 75 cm apart, with plants within rows spaced 15 cm apart. Data were collected from the three central rows of each five-row plot, while the outer rows served as borders. Blocks and individual plots were separated by 1.5 meters and 1 meter, respectively. The variety evaluation followed a participatory "mother and baby trial" approach. As per the ARARI, (2018) protocol, the "mother trials" were managed by researchers for rigorous biological data collection. In contrast, the "baby trials" were managed by farmers with technical support and were planted at three separate locations, each 3–5 km from its corresponding mother trial. These baby trials, which were unreplicated copies of the mother trial, were used for field observations and to gather farmers' variety preferences. Standard agronomic practices were uniformly applied across all trials. This included site preparation, drilling seeds, thinning seedlings to a 10 cm spacing after emergence, performing two rounds of hand weeding, and applying fertilizers (50 kg/ha of urea and 100 kg/ha of NPSB). Farmer evaluations took place at the baby trial sites during crop maturity. Biological data were collected from the three middle rows to minimize border effects, with the outer rows maintained as borders. The central rows were then harvested, and the sun-dried samples were used to determine grain yield, 1000-seed weight, and harvest index. 2.4 Data Collection Data were collected on several agronomic traits. With the exception of days to heading, flowering, and maturity—which were recorded for the entire plot—all other measurements were taken from the three central rows of each plot to ensure data consistency. Data Collection Methods : Phenological Stages : Days to Heading The count of days from plant emergence until 50% of the plants in the plot showed heading. Days to Flowering The count of days from emergence until 50% of the plants produced their first flower. Days to Maturity The count of days from emergence until 75% of the plants reached physiological maturity, identified by the formation of a black layer on the kernels. Plant and Panicle Measurements : Plant Height (cm) The average height of ten random plants, measured from the base to the panicle tip. Panicle Length (cm) The average length of ten random panicles, measured from their base to their tip. Yield Components : Productive Tillers per Plant The average number of grain-bearing tillers from ten randomly selected plants. Grain Yield per Panicle (gm) The average seed weight from the main panicles of ten random plants. Thousand Kernel Weight (gm) The weight of 1,000 kernels, adjusted to 12.5% moisture content. Overall Yield and Efficiency : Above-Ground Biomass Yield (kg/ha) The total dry weight (leaves, stems, and seeds) from the three central rows, scaled to a per-hectare basis. Straw Yield (kg/ha) Calculated by subtracting the grain yield from the total above-ground biomass yield. Grain Yield (kg/ha) The weight of grain harvested from the three central rows, adjusted to 12% moisture content to standardize the measurement. Harvest Index (%) The ratio of grain yield to total above-ground biomass yield, expressed as a percentage. 2.5. Farmers’ Preference Data Collection To identify farmer-preferred sorghum varieties, researchers conducted field visits and group discussions during the crop's maturity stage. In each experimental area, sixteen model farmers, including women, were selected to evaluate and choose the most promising varieties. The process began with a focus group discussion to pinpoint the main challenges in sorghum production within the district. Farmers then prioritized these issues and proposed potential solutions. Finally, they evaluated the crops at maturity. Farmers at the two experimental sites established their own selection criteria. In Ebinat district, they prioritized grain yield, earliness, striga resistance, and biomass yield. In Simada district, the key criteria were grain yield, earliness, striga resistance, and tillering ability. These criteria were organized into a matrix scoring table for a pair-wise comparison. A direct matrix table was created, listing the varieties in rows and the preferred characteristics in columns. Farmers scored each variety against the criteria using a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). They also assigned an importance weight to each criterion, from 1 (less important) to 3 (very important). The total score for a variety was calculated by multiplying its performance score for each trait by the trait's importance weight, and then summing these values across all traits. 2.6 Data Analysis All the collected agronomic data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the data analysis was performed separately for each experimental sites. SAS software version 9.0 was used to analyze the agronomic data, and the means were compared using LSD (Least Significant Difference) at a 5% level of significance as per Gomez and Gomez (1984). The farmers' preference data, on the other hand, were examined ranking method and direct matrix method, which was based on the rank given by (De Boef and Thijssen 2006 ). RESULT AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Farmers Preference Analysis Farmers in Ebinat district, when selecting sorghum varieties, assigned the highest priority to grain yield, as determined by a pair-wise matrix analysis. Their second most important consideration was earliness, followed by biomass yield, with striga resistance being the fourth and final key criterion. In Simada district, farmers also reported grain yield as a primary characteristic for varietal selection, ranking earliness, striga resistance, and tillering ability as their second, third, and fourth priorities, respectively. These findings are consistent with earlier research by Alebachew, ( 2012 ), which identified the same criteria as most important for farmers selecting wheat varieties. Furthermore, Fentie, ( 2010 ) noted that the Tadesse finger millet variety was favored by farmers specifically for its high grain yield and early maturation. Similarly, Buah et al. ( 2010 ) reported that for maize varieties, farmers prioritized grain yield, cob size, grain size, and earliness as the most significant adoption criteria. Earliness continues to be a vital selection criterion for farmers in the study area and the wider region, despite the fact that many released early-maturing varieties has issues with bird damage. This is because the local varieties are predominantly late-maturing. Early maturity is crucial as it helps the crop escape end-of-season drought and provides food and income to households more quickly. Farmers also place significant importance on striga damage resistance and tillering ability. Striga resistance is not considered a minor issue, as persistent striga infestation can lead to complete loss of grain yield. This concern is supported by Hussien, ( 2006 ) who documented high striga infestation in the district, and Mohamed et al. (2016) who highlighted the substantial biomass and grain yield losses in Sub-Saharan African sorghum due to the root-parasitic weed Striga hermonthica . Consequently, the development of high-yielding sorghum varieties with striga resistance and good biomass yield would significantly improve farmer preference for improved lowland sorghum varieties in Ebinat district. The farmers' emphasis on tillering ability aligns with the work of Aynewa et al. ( 2010 ) who also identified it as a key criterion in the participatory variety selection (PVS) of barley. Based on direct matrix ranking, farmers in Ebinat district identified Melkam, Girana-01, Teshale, and Gobiye as the best-performing varieties, while Birhan was the least preferred (Table 2 ). This assessment was corroborated by evaluators using pair-wise ranking, who also selected Melkam, Girana, and Teshale as the most important varieties, with Birhan being the least (Table 3 ). Conversely, in Simada district, farmers selected Melkam, Teshale, Girana-01, and Gobiye as the best varieties through direct matrix ranking, with Birhan and Hotmat being the least preferred (Table 4 ). Evaluators in Simada, using pair-wise ranking, identified Melkam, Gobiye, Teshale, and Girana-01 as the best varieties, while Birhan and Kalu were the least favored (Table 5 ). The overall evaluation from both districts, combining direct matrix and pair-wise ranking methods, consistently identified Melkam, Girana, Teshale, and Gobiye as the most preferred varieties, and Birhan as the least preferred. Farmers explained that the new varieties tested in the experiment were chosen from their perspective due to their early maturity and higher grain yield compared to local landraces. However, Gobiye, which appeared superior in many measured agronomic parameters, was ranked third and second in the direct matrix and pair-wise evaluations, respectively. This was because farmers did not favor it due to its late maturity. This outcome underscores that evaluators value earliness as a selection criterion just as much as grain yield. Despite some released varieties, such as Gubiye and Hormat, being high-yielding, early-maturing, and having a high tiller count, evaluators disliked certain characteristics like their reduced biomass yield and shorter plant height. Farmers involved in the variety development process are more likely to reject new varieties that do not meet their multipurpose needs, as noted by Firew, ( 2006 ). The results from the Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) were in agreement with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results, successfully identifying the varieties best suited for both farmers and the local environment. In some instances, farmers' preferences coincided with breeders' selections (Teshale et al. 2005 ). The varieties that demonstrated better agronomic performance across all locations were also the ones accepted from the farmers' evaluation perspective. Table 2 Direct matrix ranking evaluation of lowland sorghum varieties by group of farmers in Ebinat district Relative weight Evaluation Criteria Grain yield Earliness Striga resist Biomass yield Total score Rank 3 3 1 2 - - Melkama 5 = 15 4 = 12 2 = 4 5 = 5 36 1 Giran-1 3 = 9 4 = 12 5 = 10 4 = 4 35 2 Gobeye 3 = 9 4 = 12 4 = 8 3 = 3 32 3 Birhan 2 = 6 3 = 9 1 = 2 3 = 3 18 6 Teshale 3 = 9 5 = 15 2 = 4 4 = 4 32 3 Hormat 4 = 12 2 = 6 4 = 8 3 = 3 29 4 Kalu 2 = 6 4 = 12 3 = 6 1 = 1 25 5 Local seed 1 = 3 1 = 3 1 = 2 2 = 2 10 7 N.B Relative weight given for each selected criteria = 3(very important), 2 (Important) and 1(Less important)Score were given to each variety based on the selection criteria = 1–5 score I,e., 5 ( very good), 4 (good), 3 (average), 2 (poor) and 1 (very poor). Table 3 Farmers pair wise ranking of lowland sorghum varieties at Ebinat district during 2020 main cropping season No. Variety Melkam Girana Gobiye Birhan Teshale Hormat Kalue Local Total Score Rank 1 Melkam X Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam 7 1 2 Girana - X Girana Girana Teshal Girana Girana1 Girana 5 2 3 Gobiye - - X Birhan Teshal Gobiye Kalue Gobiye 2 4 4 Birhan - - - X Teshal Hormat Kalue Birhan 1 5 5 Teshale - - - - X Teshal Teshal Teshal 7 1 6 Hormat - - - - - X Hormat Hormat 3 3 7 Kalu - - - - - - X Kalu 3 3 8 Local - - - - - - - X 0 6 Table 4 Direct matrix ranking evaluation of lowland sorghum varieties by group of farmers at Simada district Relative weight Evaluation Criteria Grain yield Earliness Striga resist Tilliering ability Total score Rank 3 3 2 1 - - Melkama 5 = 15 5 = 15 5 = 10 4 = 4 44 1 Giran-1 4 = 12 4 = 12 4 = 8 3 = 3 36 3 Gobeye 4 = 12 4 = 12 4 = 8 3 = 3 35 4 Birhan 1 = 3 2 = 6 3 = 6 3 = 3 18 7 Teshale 3 = 9 5 = 15 5 = 10 5 = 5 39 2 Hormat 3 = 9 4 = 12 4 = 8 2 = 2 31 5 Kalu 4 = 12 4 = 12 4 = 8 2 = 2 34 4 Local seed 1 = 3 1 = 3 2 = 4 1 = 1 11 8 N.B Relative weight given for each selected criteria = 3 (very important), 2 (Important) and 1 (Less important) Score were given to each variety based on the selection criteria = 1–5 score I,e., 5 ( very good), 4 (good), 3 (average), 2 (poor) and 1 (very poor). Table 5 Farmers pair wise ranking of lowland sorghum varieties at Simada during 2020 main cropping season No. Varietie Melkam Girana Gobiye Birhan Teshale Hormat Kalue Local Total Score Rank 1 Melkam X Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam Melkam 7 1 2 Girana - X Gobiye Girana Teshale Girana Girana Girana1 4 4 3 Gobiye - - X Gobiye Gobiye Gobiye Gobiye Gobiye 6 2 4 Birhan - - - X Teshale Hormat Kalue Birhan 1 6 5 Teshale - - - - X Teshale Teshale Teshale 5 3 6 Hormat - - - - - X Hormat Hormat 3 5 7 Kalu - - - - - - X Kalu 1 6 8 Local - - - - - - - X 0 7 3.2 Agronomic Evaluation The analysis of variance (ANOVA) for both locations, detailed in Appendices 1 through 4, indicated highly significant (P < 0.01) differences among the sorghum varieties for nearly all traits measured. The sole exception was above-ground biomass yield, which did not show a significant difference at P 0.05) for this trait was observed in Simada district (Appendix 1). These findings align with prior research (Yirgu, 2012 ), confirming that genetic differences among sorghum cultivars significantly influence growth, phenology, yield, and yield-related characteristics. Significant variations were observed in the mean values for grain yield and other parameters, particularly in phonological traits like days to 50% flowering and days to physiological maturity, which define the maturity period of the varieties. Both traits showed highly significant (P < 0.01) differences at the two locations (Appendices 1 & 2). The Teshale variety was the earliest to flower at both sites, requiring 72.3 days in Simada and 74 days in Ebinat. In contrast, Gobiye (89 and 86 days) and the local check (108.3 and 108.6 days) were the latest flowering varieties at Simada and Ebinat, respectively. For physiological maturity, Teshale (96.6 and 98 days) and Melkam (101.3 and 103.6 days) were the earliest maturing varieties. The latest maturity was recorded in the local cultivar (139.3 and 141.6 days) and Gobiye (127 and 133.6 days) at Simada and Ebinat, respectively (Tables 6 & 7 ). Pair-wise matrix analysis revealed that farmers predominantly preferred Teshale among the early-maturing varieties. Overall, the improved varieties required fewer days to reach flowering and physiological maturity compared to the Gobiye genotype and the local cultivar. This result is consistent with Tegene et al. (2013), who reported 67.67 and 71.67 days to flowering for Meko and Teshale, and 110 days to maturity for both, and with Yoseph and Sorsa ( 2014 ), who documented maturity days of 104.667, 115.667, and 110 for Meko, Gambela 1107, and Teshale, respectively. During the 2020 season, plant height and panicle length also exhibited highly significant (P < 0.01) differences at both sites (Appendices 1 & 2). The longest panicles were recorded in Melkam (26.6 cm), Gobiye (25.3 cm), and Birhan (23.3 cm) at Simada, and Melkam (26.3 cm), Gobiye (25.6 cm), and Birhan (23.6 cm) at Ebinat. The shortest panicles belonged to Teshale (16.6 cm) and Kalu (16.3 cm) at Simada, and Teshale (17.3 cm) at Ebinat. This finding is supported by Fuad et al. ( 2018 ), who also reported Teshale as having one of the shortest panicles (20.13 cm). Plant height also varied considerably between varieties. At Simada, the tallest plants were the local check (221 cm), Birhan (188.6 cm), and Teshale (168 cm). At Ebinat, the tallest were Birhan (186 cm), Teshale (167 cm), and Hormat (156.6 cm). Plant height is a critical trait for sorghum growers in the region due to the high demand for aboveground biomass for animal feed. This result contrasts with Fuad et al. ( 2018 ), who reported Birhan as one of the shortest varieties (90.9 cm), though they similarly found Teshale (169.7 cm) and Melkam (146.1 cm) to be among the tallest. Conversely, Gobiye had the shortest plant height at both locations (121 cm and 122.6 cm). The observed variations in panicle length, diameter, and plant height are attributed to the genetic diversity among the varieties. Yoseph and Sorsa ( 2014 ) reported panicle lengths of 19.00 cm, 21.867 cm, and 18.467 cm for Meko, Gambela 1107, and Teshale, respectively, which falls within a similar range. Appendices 3 & 4 show that grain yield and its components differed significantly (P < 0.01) among the varieties at both locations. Melkam, followed by Girana, produced the highest grain yields: 3980 kg/ha and 3830 kg/ha at Simada, and 4130 kg/ha and 3860 kg/ha at Ebinat, respectively. Gobiye yielded the lowest (1940 and 1910 kg/ha at the two sites). At Simada, Melkam and Girana showed a yield advantage of 106% and 98%, respectively, over the local check (1930 kg/ha) (Tables 6 ). Table 6 ANOVA for eleven characters measured for 7 varieties including local check at Simada district during 2020 rainy season Variety DF DPM PH PL TN TSW BOY GY HI STR BDR Melkam 84.3 c 101.3 cd 126 de 26.6 a 5.6 ab 30.8 b 10330 a 39.8 a 39.9 ab 97.6 ab 8.7 e Girana 76 de 107.6 c 146.6 cde 17.6 d 5a bc 30.7 b 8983 ab 38.3 ab 44.2 ab 92.6 abc 13.6 d Gobiye 89 b 127 b 121 e 25.3 ab 5.3 ab 27.2 c 8031 abc 19.4 e 24.8 c 91.3 bc 21.2 c Birhan 87.6 b 120 b 188.6 b 23.3 abc 4.6 abcd 36.6 a 6913 bc 31.5 cd 46.8 ab 89 c 15.2 d Teshale 72.3 f 96.6 d 168 bc 16.3d 6 aa 27 c 8585 abc 29.2 d 34.6 bc 99 a 27.5 b Hormat 75 ef 105.3 c 157 cd 21.6 bc 4 bcd 31.5 b 9092 ab 34.5 bc 38.1 ab 97 ab 15.4 d Kalu 78 d 105.6 c 143.6 cde 16.6 d 3.3 cd 30.8 b 5998 c 30.5 d 51.2 a 90 c 29 b Local 108.3 a 139.3 a 221 a 20 cd 3 d 25 c 8903 ab 19.3 e 22.2 c 59.3 d 42.7 a LSD 5% 2.8 7.38 31.49 3.86 1.85 2.4 2768.6 3.9 13.17 6.7 3.4 CV 1.91 3.7 11 10.54 22 4.6 18.9 7.3 19.9 4 9 Table 7 ANOVA for six characters measured for 7 varieties including local check at Ebinat district during 2015 rainy season Variety DF DPM PH PL TN TSW BOY GY HI STR BDR Melkam 85.3 ab 103.6 de 129 d 26.3 a 6 a 31 b 10496 a 41.3 a 40 abc 96.6 ab 8.6 e Girana 75.6 b 109.3 d 146.3 cd 18 de 5 ab 30.9 b 8959 ab 38.06 a 42.8 ab 92 abc 13.8 d Gobiye 86 ab 133.6 b 122.6 d 25.6 ab 5.6 ab 27.5 c 8363 ab 19.1 d 23.4 de 86.6 c 21.4 c Birhan 87.6 ab 119.3 c 186 b 23.6 abc 4.5 ab 35.9 a 6955 b 32.6 b 47.4 a 88 bc 14.0 d Teshale 74 b 98 e 167 bc 17.3 e 5.8 ab 25.4 c 8833 ab 30.3 bc 35.8 bc 98 a 28.5 b Hormat 77.3 b 106 d 156.6 bcd 22 bcd 4.6 ab 30.9 b 7165 b 29.5 bc 43 ab 95 abc 15.4 d Kalu 78 ab 105.6 de 144.6 cd 17.3 e 3.6 b 30.7 b 9150 ab 28.5 c 31.4 dc 89.3 abc 29.2 b Local 108.6 a 141.6 a 223.6 a 20.3 cde 4 ab 26.3 c 9881 a 19.2 d 19.6 e 67 d 41.1 a LSD 5% 31.1 7.9 35.0 4.1 2.29 2.4 2291.5 3.9 8.82 9 3.59 CV 22.3 4 12.7 11 27 4.7 15.2 7.7 14.4 5.9 9.6 As noted, above-ground biomass yield was not significantly different (P < 0.05) at either location. However, numerical differences existed, with the maximum yield recorded for Melkam (10330 kg/ha at Simada; 10496 kg/ha at Ebinat) and the minimum for Kalu (5998 kg/ha) at Simada and Birhan (6955 kg/ha) at Ebinat. This contrasts with Yalemtesfa et al. ( 2017 ) who found significant differences in biomass, with Teshale having the lowest (5266.7 kg/ha) and a local check the highest (16622.20 kg/ha). A highly significant (P < 0.01) difference was found for thousand seed weight (TSW) at both locations. The maximum TSW was from Birhan (36.6g at Simada; 35.9g at Ebinat), and the minimum from Teshale (27g at Simada; 25.4g at Ebinat) (Tables 6 & 7 ). The harvest index (HI), a key measure of photosynthate partitioning to grain, also varied. In Simada, HI ranged from 22.2% for the local check to 39.9% for Melkam, while in Ebinat, it ranged from 19.6% for the local check to 47.4% for Birhan. Regarding tolerance to bird damage, Melkam (91.3% and 94% resistance), Birhan (84.8% and 86%), and Hormat (84.6%) showed significantly higher resistance. In contrast, Teshale (72.5% and 71.5% damage), Kalu (71% and 70.8%), and the local check (57.3% and 58.9% resistance) suffered higher bird damage at Simada and Ebinat, respectively. The released variety Melkam also had a low mean bird injury rate of 8.65%, potentially due to its lax panicle and brown, high-tannin grain which imparts a bitter taste. Teshale and Kalu were the most susceptible, with bird injury rates of 28% and 29.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 4.1 Conclusion The study successfully identified superior sorghum varieties for the lowland areas of South Gondar. The improved varieties generally outperformed the local check in key agronomic traits, particularly by maturing significantly earlier (96–109 days vs. 139–141 days) and yielding more. The variety melkam was the top performer, combining high grain yield (3980–4130 kg/ha), early maturity, and strong resistance to bird damage, making it highly suitable for the region. Farmers' participatory evaluation confirmed these findings, with their selection criteria (yield, earliness, striga resistance) aligning closely with the agronomic results. 4.2 Recommendation Based on the results, the variety melkam is highly recommended for dissemination and production in the lowland areas of the South Gondar zone, specifically in Ebinat and Simada districts. Its combination of high yield, early maturity, and bird resistance addresses the primary constraints faced by farmers. To ensure successful adoption, efforts should focus on increasing seed availability of this and other promising varieties (like Girana-1) and promoting participatory seed multiplication programs with local farmers. Declarations CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests. Author Contribution Getachew Chanie: Conceptualization, investigation, formal writing, writing-original draft and writing-review. Kassahun Amare: Supervision, writing-review and editing. Firnus Adugna: Supervision, writing-review and editing Acknowledgement The authors express their gratitude to the Office of the Vice-President for Research Affairs of Debre Tabor University for funding this research. Special thanks are extended to Melkasa and Sirinka Agricultural Research Centers for providing the seeds. The authors also wish to thank all participating farmers, agricultural experts, and Development Agents in Ebinat and Simada districts for their cooperation, which was instrumental to the success of this work. References Adugna A (2007) The role of introduced sorghum and millets in Ethiopian agriculture. SAT eJournal 3(1). Melkassa Agricultural Research Center Agegnehu A (2015) The cause of rural household food insecurity and coping strategy: The case of Ebinat district, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State. Indria Gandhi National Open University, School of Continuing Education Alebachew H (2012) Participatory and performance evaluation of improved bread wheat varieties in Degua Tembien and Ofla Woredas of Tigray region. Master’s thesis, Haramaya University Aynewa Y, Dessalegn T, Bayu W (2010) Participatory evaluation of malt barley (Hordium vulgare L.) genotypes for yield and other agronomic traits at North-west Ethiopia. Wudpecker Journal of Agricultural Research 2(8):218–222 Buah SS, Kombiok JM, Kanton RAL, Denwar NN, Haruna A, Wiredu AN, Abdulai MS (2010) Participatory evaluation of drought tolerant maize varieties in Guinea Savanna of Ghana using mother and baby trial. Journal of Science and Technology 33(2):12–23 Central Statistical Authority (CSA) (2018) Agricultural sample survey, area and production of crops. Statistical Bulletin 532, Vol I, pp 14–63. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia De Boef WS, Thijssen MH (2006) Participatory tools working with crops, varieties and seeds: A guide for professionals applying participatory approaches in agro-biodiversity management, plant breeding and seed sector development. Wageningen International Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2008) FAOSTAT: Sorghum production. http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/default.aspx#ancor Fentie M (2010) Participatory evaluation and selection of improved finger millet varieties in north western Ethiopia. International Journal of Plant Sciences 3(7):141–146 Firew M (2006) Farmers and formal breeding of sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L) Moench) and the implication for integrated plant breeding. Euphytica 152(2):163–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-006-9201-9 Fuad A, Samuel T, Zeleqe L, Fikadu T, Alemayehu B, Taye T (2018) Evaluation of early maturing sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in the lowlands of Eastern Hararghe. Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research 8(1):40–43 Gemechu G, Adugna A, Tadesse T, Teferra T, Belete K, Habte H (2004) Development of sorghum varieties and hybrids for dry land areas of Ethiopia. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Science 9(3):594–605 Gudu S, Ouma EO, Onkware AO, Too EJ, Were BA, Ochuodho JO, Othieno CO, Okalebo JR, Agalo J, Gudu SM (2013) Preliminary participatory on-farm sorghum variety selection for tolerance to drought, soil acidity and Striga in Western Kenya. Paper presented at the First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific Conference, United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Hussien T (2006) Distribution of two Striga species and their relative impact on local and resistant sorghum cultivars in East Ethiopia. Tropical Science 46(3):147–150 Joshi A, Witcombe JR (1996) Farmer participatory crop improvement II: Participatory varietal selection: A case study in India. Experimental Agriculture 32(4):461–477 Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) (2000) Proceedings of the 7th KARI Biennial Scientific Conference Majid M, Rosnah MY, Mohammad RAM (2010) Determining and ranking essential criteria of construction project selection in Telecommunication of North Khorasan Iran. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development 1(1):1–4 Marye B (2011) Local peoples’ perception on climate change, its impact, and adaptation measures in Simada Wereda of South Gondar. Master’s thesis, Addis Ababa University Meseret B (2012) Assessment of drinking water quality and determinants of household potable water consumption in the Simada district, Ethiopia. Master’s thesis, Bahir Dar University Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) (2013) Crop variety register, Issue No. 15. Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mohemed N, Charnikhova T, Bakker E, Van Ast A, Babiker A, Bouwmeester H (2016) Evaluation of field resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench: The relationship with strigolactones. Pest Management Science 72(11):2082–2090. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4426 South Gondar Administrative Zone Information and Communication Office (2011) Brochure on profile of South Gondar Zone Woredas. Debre Tabor, Ethiopia Teshale A, Abeju G, Finenissa C, Bulti T, Abdel M, Al-Tawaha R (2005) Participatory bean breeding with women and small holder farmers in Eastern Ethiopia. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1(1):28–35 Weltzien E, Smith ME, Meitzner LS, Sperling L (2003) Technical and institutional issues in participatory plant breeding from the perspective of formal plant breeding: A global analysis of issues, results and current experience. PPB Monograph No. 1, PRGA Program Yalemtesfa F, Firew M, Asfaw A (2017) Participatory evaluation and selection of lowland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varieties: The case of Kamashi Zone, Western Ethiopia. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences 17(3):220–226 Yirgu M (2012) Genetic gain in lowland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varieties in Ethiopia. Master’s thesis, Haramaya University Yoseph T, Sorsa Z (2014) Evaluation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties for yield and yield components at Kako, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Plant Sciences 2(4):129–133 APPENDIXS Appendix 1. Mean Square Values for Crop Phenology and Growth Parameters of Sorghum at Simada district in 2020. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8815749","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":595237463,"identity":"f3d236dc-d37f-4e34-baf3-d4ceb6f50f6c","order_by":0,"name":"Getachew Chanie","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA40lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACNgbGPzb19scbgGwDC2K1NKQlMJw5ANIiQbSWwwkMNxJAHCK0yLs3P3vwcQdzHuPM51c3/CiQYOBv707Aq8XwzDFzw5ln2IqZpXPKbvYAHSZx5uwG/Fpm5LBJ87DxMLZJ56Td4AFqMZDIJaBl/huQFgnGHskzaTf/EKNFXoKHTZq3zSBxhgT7sdtE2WLAk2YmOeNMgrEBTw7bbRkDCR6CfpFvP/xM4kPFfzkD9uPPbr75YyPH395LwJYDcCaPAZjEqxxsSwOcyf6AoOpRMApGwSgYmQAAzM5F4PYyi7gAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Debre Tabor University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Getachew","middleName":"","lastName":"Chanie","suffix":""},{"id":595237470,"identity":"5d49e035-608c-438b-901c-92d705ad9099","order_by":1,"name":"Kassahun Amare","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Debre Tabor University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kassahun","middleName":"","lastName":"Amare","suffix":""},{"id":595237472,"identity":"9bfc27f0-3022-4a82-9396-5373503bca60","order_by":2,"name":"Firnus Adugna","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Debre Tabor University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Firnus","middleName":"","lastName":"Adugna","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-07 13:23:28","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108069209,"identity":"050f582d-6baf-4875-8b3f-a099295a610e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-29 05:25:45","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":625899,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8815749/v1/a1602e5f-5041-4cdb-9553-dbfc7816631c.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Participatory evaluation of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in Low land Areas of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eSorghum ranks as the fifth most significant cereal crop globally, following wheat, rice, maize, and barley (FAOSTAT 2008). Renowned for its drought tolerance, it is a cornerstone of food and nutritional security for over 100\u0026nbsp;million people in the Eastern Horn of Africa (Gudu et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). In Ethiopia, sorghum is a vital staple crop, particularly for impoverished communities, and is utilized extensively with no part of the plant going to waste (Adugna \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). It holds the position of the third most important cereal in the country, after teff and maize, in terms of both area cultivated and total production (CSA 2018). This is especially true in the lowland areas of the North Western Amhara region, where it is a dominant crop, accounting for 18% of the cereal area and 14.8% of total production (CSA 2018).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe crop's wide adaptability to different climates and its low water requirements compared to other cereals make it a valuable resource for bolstering food and feed supplies (KARI 2007). Despite the release of over forty improved sorghum varieties in Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture 2013), only a limited number have seen sustained adoption by farmers in the Amhara Region. This limited uptake is primarily attributed to the scarcity of improved seed and the minimal involvement of farmers in the variety selection process.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConventional breeding methods often restrict farmer participation in technology development (Joshi and Witcombe \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1996\u003c/span\u003e). As an alternative, Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) engages farmers directly in evaluating and selecting from released varieties. This approach has proven more successful than conventional systems in identifying a greater number of varieties that align with farmer preferences (Weltzien et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the Southern Gondar zone, specifically in Ebinat and Simada districts, sorghum productivity faces several constraints. Farmers predominantly cultivate low-yielding local varieties that have a long maturation period of 7\u0026ndash;8 months. Other challenges include limited access to improved seeds, drought, weeds, insect pests, and birds. Consequently, there is a pressing need among farmers for new, drought-resilient, high-yielding varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted with the following objectives: to evaluate and identify the best-adapted lowland sorghum variety(s) for the specific conditions of the study area, and to determine the farmers' preferences and selection criteria for these varieties.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec2\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Description of the Study Area\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis research was conducted during the primary 2020/21 agricultural season in two key sorghum-producing areas of the South Gondar zone: the Ebinat and Simada districts. Ebinat district is geographically situated between 11\u0026deg;53'N to 12\u0026deg;5'N latitude and 37\u0026deg;42'E to 38\u0026deg;30'E longitude. It is bordered by the East Belesa, Farta, Bugna, and Libo Kemkem districts. The area's elevation varies from 1800 to 2150 meters above sea level and is characterized by three agro-ecological zones: kolla (50%), Woyina Dega (35%), and Dega (15%). According to available data, the region receives an average annual rainfall of between 500 mm and 1300 mm.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarly, Simada district is located at approximately 11\u0026deg;30'N latitude and 38\u0026deg;15'E longitude, with a more dramatic altitudinal range of 1196 to 3525 meters above sea level. Its landscape is divided into middle altitude (40%), highland (10%), and lowland (50%) climatic zones. Meteorological records indicate that during the growing season, this district experiences rainfall levels from 736 to 770 mm and average temperatures of 13\u0026ndash;15\u0026deg;C. The predominant soil types in Simada are Nitisol and Vertisol, which cover roughly 75% and 25% of the land area, respectively. These two districts were selected as study sites due to their recognized potential and prominence for sorghum cultivation. In addition to sorghum, the local agriculture in these areas includes crops such as maize, finger millet, teff, faba beans, and chickpeas.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Experimental Materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eList of improved sorghum varieties used as in the study areas during the 2021 cropping season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariety\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYear of release\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePedigree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeed color\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBreeder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2009\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWSV 387\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMARC/EIAR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2007\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePGRC/E#69441 X P-9401\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRARC/ARARI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGIRANA-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2007\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCR: 35XDJ 1195 X N-13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRARC/ARARI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2005\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eICSV 1112 BF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRARC/ARARI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKey # 8566\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReddish brown\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRARC/ARARI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3443-2-op\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRARC/ARARI and MARC/EIAR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP-9401\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMARC/EIAR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e--\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e--\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e--\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3. Experimental Design and Field Operations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study employed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each plot measured 5.25 by 3.75 meters and between rows spaced 75 cm apart, with plants within rows spaced 15 cm apart. Data were collected from the three central rows of each five-row plot, while the outer rows served as borders. Blocks and individual plots were separated by 1.5 meters and 1 meter, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe variety evaluation followed a participatory \"mother and baby trial\" approach. As per the ARARI, (2018) protocol, the \"mother trials\" were managed by researchers for rigorous biological data collection. In contrast, the \"baby trials\" were managed by farmers with technical support and were planted at three separate locations, each 3\u0026ndash;5 km from its corresponding mother trial. These baby trials, which were unreplicated copies of the mother trial, were used for field observations and to gather farmers' variety preferences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStandard agronomic practices were uniformly applied across all trials. This included site preparation, drilling seeds, thinning seedlings to a 10 cm spacing after emergence, performing two rounds of hand weeding, and applying fertilizers (50 kg/ha of urea and 100 kg/ha of NPSB).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmer evaluations took place at the baby trial sites during crop maturity. Biological data were collected from the three middle rows to minimize border effects, with the outer rows maintained as borders. The central rows were then harvested, and the sun-dried samples were used to determine grain yield, 1000-seed weight, and harvest index.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Data Collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were collected on several agronomic traits. With the exception of days to heading, flowering, and maturity\u0026mdash;which were recorded for the entire plot\u0026mdash;all other measurements were taken from the three central rows of each plot to ensure data consistency.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eData Collection Methods\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePhenological Stages\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDays to Heading\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe count of days from plant emergence until 50% of the plants in the plot showed heading.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDays to Flowering\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe count of days from emergence until 50% of the plants produced their first flower.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe count of days from emergence until 75% of the plants reached physiological maturity, identified by the formation of a black layer on the kernels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003ePlant and Panicle Measurements\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePlant Height (cm)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe average height of ten random plants, measured from the base to the panicle tip.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePanicle Length (cm)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe average length of ten random panicles, measured from their base to their tip.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eYield Components\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProductive Tillers per Plant\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe average number of grain-bearing tillers from ten randomly selected plants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eGrain Yield per Panicle (gm)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe average seed weight from the main panicles of ten random plants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eThousand Kernel Weight (gm)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe weight of 1,000 kernels, adjusted to 12.5% moisture content.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eOverall Yield and Efficiency\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAbove-Ground Biomass Yield (kg/ha)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe total dry weight (leaves, stems, and seeds) from the three central rows, scaled to a per-hectare basis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStraw Yield (kg/ha)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eCalculated by subtracting the grain yield from the total above-ground biomass yield.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eGrain Yield (kg/ha)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe weight of grain harvested from the three central rows, adjusted to 12% moisture content to standardize the measurement.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHarvest Index (%)\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ratio of grain yield to total above-ground biomass yield, expressed as a percentage.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5. Farmers\u0026rsquo; Preference Data Collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo identify farmer-preferred sorghum varieties, researchers conducted field visits and group discussions during the crop's maturity stage. In each experimental area, sixteen model farmers, including women, were selected to evaluate and choose the most promising varieties.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe process began with a focus group discussion to pinpoint the main challenges in sorghum production within the district. Farmers then prioritized these issues and proposed potential solutions. Finally, they evaluated the crops at maturity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers at the two experimental sites established their own selection criteria. In Ebinat district, they prioritized grain yield, earliness, striga resistance, and biomass yield. In Simada district, the key criteria were grain yield, earliness, striga resistance, and tillering ability. These criteria were organized into a matrix scoring table for a pair-wise comparison.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA direct matrix table was created, listing the varieties in rows and the preferred characteristics in columns. Farmers scored each variety against the criteria using a scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). They also assigned an importance weight to each criterion, from 1 (less important) to 3 (very important). The total score for a variety was calculated by multiplying its performance score for each trait by the trait's importance weight, and then summing these values across all traits.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.6 Data Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll the collected agronomic data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the data analysis was performed separately for each experimental sites. SAS software version 9.0 was used to analyze the agronomic data, and the means were compared using LSD (Least Significant Difference) at a 5% level of significance as per Gomez and Gomez (1984). The farmers' preference data, on the other hand, were examined ranking method and direct matrix method, which was based on the rank given by (De Boef and Thijssen \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"RESULT AND DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Farmers Preference Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers in Ebinat district, when selecting sorghum varieties, assigned the highest priority to grain yield, as determined by a pair-wise matrix analysis. Their second most important consideration was earliness, followed by biomass yield, with striga resistance being the fourth and final key criterion. In Simada district, farmers also reported grain yield as a primary characteristic for varietal selection, ranking earliness, striga resistance, and tillering ability as their second, third, and fourth priorities, respectively. These findings are consistent with earlier research by Alebachew, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), which identified the same criteria as most important for farmers selecting wheat varieties. Furthermore, Fentie, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) noted that the Tadesse finger millet variety was favored by farmers specifically for its high grain yield and early maturation. Similarly, Buah et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) reported that for maize varieties, farmers prioritized grain yield, cob size, grain size, and earliness as the most significant adoption criteria.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarliness continues to be a vital selection criterion for farmers in the study area and the wider region, despite the fact that many released early-maturing varieties has issues with bird damage. This is because the local varieties are predominantly late-maturing. Early maturity is crucial as it helps the crop escape end-of-season drought and provides food and income to households more quickly. Farmers also place significant importance on striga damage resistance and tillering ability. Striga resistance is not considered a minor issue, as persistent striga infestation can lead to complete loss of grain yield. This concern is supported by Hussien, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e) who documented high striga infestation in the district, and Mohamed et al. (2016) who highlighted the substantial biomass and grain yield losses in Sub-Saharan African sorghum due to the root-parasitic weed \u003cem\u003eStriga hermonthica\u003c/em\u003e. Consequently, the development of high-yielding sorghum varieties with striga resistance and good biomass yield would significantly improve farmer preference for improved lowland sorghum varieties in Ebinat district. The farmers' emphasis on tillering ability aligns with the work of Aynewa et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) who also identified it as a key criterion in the participatory variety selection (PVS) of barley.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on direct matrix ranking, farmers in Ebinat district identified Melkam, Girana-01, Teshale, and Gobiye as the best-performing varieties, while Birhan was the least preferred (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). This assessment was corroborated by evaluators using pair-wise ranking, who also selected Melkam, Girana, and Teshale as the most important varieties, with Birhan being the least (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConversely, in Simada district, farmers selected Melkam, Teshale, Girana-01, and Gobiye as the best varieties through direct matrix ranking, with Birhan and Hotmat being the least preferred (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Evaluators in Simada, using pair-wise ranking, identified Melkam, Gobiye, Teshale, and Girana-01 as the best varieties, while Birhan and Kalu were the least favored (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). The overall evaluation from both districts, combining direct matrix and pair-wise ranking methods, consistently identified Melkam, Girana, Teshale, and Gobiye as the most preferred varieties, and Birhan as the least preferred.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers explained that the new varieties tested in the experiment were chosen from their perspective due to their early maturity and higher grain yield compared to local landraces. However, Gobiye, which appeared superior in many measured agronomic parameters, was ranked third and second in the direct matrix and pair-wise evaluations, respectively. This was because farmers did not favor it due to its late maturity. This outcome underscores that evaluators value earliness as a selection criterion just as much as grain yield.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite some released varieties, such as Gubiye and Hormat, being high-yielding, early-maturing, and having a high tiller count, evaluators disliked certain characteristics like their reduced biomass yield and shorter plant height. Farmers involved in the variety development process are more likely to reject new varieties that do not meet their multipurpose needs, as noted by Firew, (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). The results from the Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) were in agreement with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results, successfully identifying the varieties best suited for both farmers and the local environment. In some instances, farmers' preferences coincided with breeders' selections (Teshale et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). The varieties that demonstrated better agronomic performance across all locations were also the ones accepted from the farmers' evaluation perspective.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDirect matrix ranking evaluation of lowland sorghum varieties by group of farmers in Ebinat district\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelative\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eweight\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvaluation Criteria\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGrain yield\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarliness\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStriga resist\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBiomass yield\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRank\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkama\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiran-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobeye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal seed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN.B Relative weight given for each selected criteria\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3(very important), 2 (Important) and 1(Less important)Score were given to each variety based on the selection criteria\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1\u0026ndash;5 score I,e., 5 ( very good), 4 (good), 3 (average), 2 (poor) and 1 (very poor).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers pair wise ranking of lowland sorghum varieties at Ebinat district during 2020 main cropping season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"25\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c16\" colnum=\"16\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c17\" colnum=\"17\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c18\" colnum=\"18\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c19\" colnum=\"19\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c20\" colnum=\"20\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c21\" colnum=\"21\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c22\" colnum=\"22\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c23\" colnum=\"23\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c24\" colnum=\"24\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c25\" colnum=\"25\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariety\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c17\" namest=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c19\" namest=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c21\" namest=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eScore\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c24\" namest=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRank\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"1\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c25\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c16\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c18\" namest=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c20\" namest=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c22\" namest=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c25\" namest=\"c23\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDirect matrix ranking evaluation of lowland sorghum varieties by group of farmers at Simada district\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRelative\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eweight\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEvaluation Criteria\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrain yield\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEarliness\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStriga resist\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTilliering ability\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRank\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkama\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGiran-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobeye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal seed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eN.B Relative weight given for each selected criteria\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3 (very important), 2 (Important) and 1 (Less important) Score were given to each variety based on the selection criteria\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1\u0026ndash;5 score I,e., 5 ( very good), 4 (good), 3 (average), 2 (poor) and 1 (very poor).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarmers pair wise ranking of lowland sorghum varieties at Simada during 2020 main cropping season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"12\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVarietie\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eScore\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRank\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eX\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Agronomic Evaluation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe analysis of variance (ANOVA) for both locations, detailed in Appendices 1 through 4, indicated highly significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) differences among the sorghum varieties for nearly all traits measured. The sole exception was above-ground biomass yield, which did not show a significant difference at P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 in either location. Furthermore, the number of effective tillers was not significantly different in Ebinat district (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e), whereas a significant difference (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) for this trait was observed in Simada district (Appendix 1). These findings align with prior research (Yirgu, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), confirming that genetic differences among sorghum cultivars significantly influence growth, phenology, yield, and yield-related characteristics.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSignificant variations were observed in the mean values for grain yield and other parameters, particularly in phonological traits like days to 50% flowering and days to physiological maturity, which define the maturity period of the varieties. Both traits showed highly significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) differences at the two locations (Appendices 1 \u0026amp; 2). The Teshale variety was the earliest to flower at both sites, requiring 72.3 days in Simada and 74 days in Ebinat. In contrast, Gobiye (89 and 86 days) and the local check (108.3 and 108.6 days) were the latest flowering varieties at Simada and Ebinat, respectively. For physiological maturity, Teshale (96.6 and 98 days) and Melkam (101.3 and 103.6 days) were the earliest maturing varieties. The latest maturity was recorded in the local cultivar (139.3 and 141.6 days) and Gobiye (127 and 133.6 days) at Simada and Ebinat, respectively (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e \u0026amp; \u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePair-wise matrix analysis revealed that farmers predominantly preferred Teshale among the early-maturing varieties. Overall, the improved varieties required fewer days to reach flowering and physiological maturity compared to the Gobiye genotype and the local cultivar. This result is consistent with Tegene et al. (2013), who reported 67.67 and 71.67 days to flowering for Meko and Teshale, and 110 days to maturity for both, and with Yoseph and Sorsa (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e), who documented maturity days of 104.667, 115.667, and 110 for Meko, Gambela 1107, and Teshale, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring the 2020 season, plant height and panicle length also exhibited highly significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) differences at both sites (Appendices 1 \u0026amp; 2). The longest panicles were recorded in Melkam (26.6 cm), Gobiye (25.3 cm), and Birhan (23.3 cm) at Simada, and Melkam (26.3 cm), Gobiye (25.6 cm), and Birhan (23.6 cm) at Ebinat. The shortest panicles belonged to Teshale (16.6 cm) and Kalu (16.3 cm) at Simada, and Teshale (17.3 cm) at Ebinat. This finding is supported by Fuad et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), who also reported Teshale as having one of the shortest panicles (20.13 cm).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlant height also varied considerably between varieties. At Simada, the tallest plants were the local check (221 cm), Birhan (188.6 cm), and Teshale (168 cm). At Ebinat, the tallest were Birhan (186 cm), Teshale (167 cm), and Hormat (156.6 cm). Plant height is a critical trait for sorghum growers in the region due to the high demand for aboveground biomass for animal feed. This result contrasts with Fuad et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), who reported Birhan as one of the shortest varieties (90.9 cm), though they similarly found Teshale (169.7 cm) and Melkam (146.1 cm) to be among the tallest. Conversely, Gobiye had the shortest plant height at both locations (121 cm and 122.6 cm). The observed variations in panicle length, diameter, and plant height are attributed to the genetic diversity among the varieties. Yoseph and Sorsa (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) reported panicle lengths of 19.00 cm, 21.867 cm, and 18.467 cm for Meko, Gambela 1107, and Teshale, respectively, which falls within a similar range.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppendices 3 \u0026amp; 4 show that grain yield and its components differed significantly (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) among the varieties at both locations. Melkam, followed by Girana, produced the highest grain yields: 3980 kg/ha and 3830 kg/ha at Simada, and 4130 kg/ha and 3860 kg/ha at Ebinat, respectively. Gobiye yielded the lowest (1940 and 1910 kg/ha at the two sites). At Simada, Melkam and Girana showed a yield advantage of 106% and 98%, respectively, over the local check (1930 kg/ha) (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eANOVA for eleven characters measured for 7 varieties including local check at Simada district during 2020 rainy season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"12\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariety\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDPM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTSW\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBOY\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGY\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSTR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBDR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMelkam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101.3\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e126\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.8\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10330\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.8\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.9\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.7\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e107.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e 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colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.6\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e121\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.3\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.3\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8031\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.4\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.8\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91.3\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e120\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e188.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.3\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.6\u003csup\u003eabcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6913\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.5\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e 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colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8585\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.2\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.6\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.5\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003csup\u003eef\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e157\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.6\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.5\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9092\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.5\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.1\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e 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\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5998\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.5\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.2\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e139.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e221\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8903\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.3\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59.3\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.7\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLSD 5%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2768.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCV\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab7\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 7\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eANOVA for six characters measured for 7 varieties including local check at Ebinat district during 2015 rainy season\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"12\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariety\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDF\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDPM\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTSW\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBOY\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGY\u003c/p\u003e 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colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10496\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.3\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e96.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.6\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGirana\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109.3\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e146.3\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8959\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.06\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.8\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGobiye\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e133.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e122.6\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.5\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8363\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.1\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.4\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86.6\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirhan\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e119.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e186\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.6\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.5\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.9\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6955\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.4\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.0\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTeshale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e98\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e167\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.3\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.8\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.4\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8833\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.3\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.8\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e98\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.5\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHormat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77.3\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e156.6\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003csup\u003ebcd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.6\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.9\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7165\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.5\u003csup\u003ebc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.4\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKalu\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e78\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105.6\u003csup\u003ede\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e144.6\u003csup\u003ecd\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.3\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.6\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.7\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9150\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.5\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.4\u003csup\u003edc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89.3\u003csup\u003eabc\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.2\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLocal\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e141.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e223.6\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.3\u003csup\u003ecde\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.3\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9881\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.2\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.6\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.1\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLSD 5%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2291.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCV\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs noted, above-ground biomass yield was not significantly different (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) at either location. However, numerical differences existed, with the maximum yield recorded for Melkam (10330 kg/ha at Simada; 10496 kg/ha at Ebinat) and the minimum for Kalu (5998 kg/ha) at Simada and Birhan (6955 kg/ha) at Ebinat. This contrasts with Yalemtesfa et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e) who found significant differences in biomass, with Teshale having the lowest (5266.7 kg/ha) and a local check the highest (16622.20 kg/ha).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA highly significant (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) difference was found for thousand seed weight (TSW) at both locations. The maximum TSW was from Birhan (36.6g at Simada; 35.9g at Ebinat), and the minimum from Teshale (27g at Simada; 25.4g at Ebinat) (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e \u0026amp; \u003cspan refid=\"Tab7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e). The harvest index (HI), a key measure of photosynthate partitioning to grain, also varied. In Simada, HI ranged from 22.2% for the local check to 39.9% for Melkam, while in Ebinat, it ranged from 19.6% for the local check to 47.4% for Birhan.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegarding tolerance to bird damage, Melkam (91.3% and 94% resistance), Birhan (84.8% and 86%), and Hormat (84.6%) showed significantly higher resistance. In contrast, Teshale (72.5% and 71.5% damage), Kalu (71% and 70.8%), and the local check (57.3% and 58.9% resistance) suffered higher bird damage at Simada and Ebinat, respectively. The released variety Melkam also had a low mean bird injury rate of 8.65%, potentially due to its lax panicle and brown, high-tannin grain which imparts a bitter taste. Teshale and Kalu were the most susceptible, with bird injury rates of 28% and 29.1%, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1 Conclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study successfully identified superior sorghum varieties for the lowland areas of South Gondar. The improved varieties generally outperformed the local check in key agronomic traits, particularly by maturing significantly earlier (96\u0026ndash;109 days vs. 139\u0026ndash;141 days) and yielding more. The variety melkam was the top performer, combining high grain yield (3980\u0026ndash;4130 kg/ha), early maturity, and strong resistance to bird damage, making it highly suitable for the region. Farmers' participatory evaluation confirmed these findings, with their selection criteria (yield, earliness, striga resistance) aligning closely with the agronomic results.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2 Recommendation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on the results, the variety \u003cb\u003emelkam\u003c/b\u003e is highly recommended for dissemination and production in the lowland areas of the South Gondar zone, specifically in Ebinat and Simada districts. Its combination of high yield, early maturity, and bird resistance addresses the primary constraints faced by farmers. To ensure successful adoption, efforts should focus on increasing seed availability of this and other promising varieties (like Girana-1) and promoting participatory seed multiplication programs with local farmers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eCONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGetachew Chanie: Conceptualization, investigation, formal writing, writing-original draft and writing-review. Kassahun Amare: Supervision, writing-review and editing. Firnus Adugna: Supervision, writing-review and editing\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors express their gratitude to the Office of the Vice-President for Research Affairs of Debre Tabor University for funding this research. Special thanks are extended to Melkasa and Sirinka Agricultural Research Centers for providing the seeds. The authors also wish to thank all participating farmers, agricultural experts, and Development Agents in Ebinat and Simada districts for their cooperation, which was instrumental to the success of this work.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdugna A (2007) The role of introduced sorghum and millets in Ethiopian agriculture. SAT eJournal 3(1). Melkassa Agricultural Research Center\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAgegnehu A (2015) The cause of rural household food insecurity and coping strategy: The case of Ebinat district, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State. 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Master\u0026rsquo;s thesis, Bahir Dar University\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMinistry of Agriculture (MOA) (2013) Crop variety register, Issue No. 15. Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMohemed N, Charnikhova T, Bakker E, Van Ast A, Babiker A, Bouwmeester H (2016) Evaluation of field resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench: The relationship with strigolactones. Pest Management Science 72(11):2082\u0026ndash;2090. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4426\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1002/ps.4426\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouth Gondar Administrative Zone Information and Communication Office (2011) Brochure on profile of South Gondar Zone Woredas. Debre Tabor, Ethiopia\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTeshale A, Abeju G, Finenissa C, Bulti T, Abdel M, Al-Tawaha R (2005) Participatory bean breeding with women and small holder farmers in Eastern Ethiopia. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1(1):28\u0026ndash;35\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeltzien E, Smith ME, Meitzner LS, Sperling L (2003) Technical and institutional issues in participatory plant breeding from the perspective of formal plant breeding: A global analysis of issues, results and current experience. PPB Monograph No. 1, PRGA Program\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYalemtesfa F, Firew M, Asfaw A (2017) Participatory evaluation and selection of lowland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varieties: The case of Kamashi Zone, Western Ethiopia. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural \u0026amp; Environmental Sciences 17(3):220\u0026ndash;226\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYirgu M (2012) Genetic gain in lowland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varieties in Ethiopia. Master\u0026rsquo;s thesis, Haramaya University\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoseph T, Sorsa Z (2014) Evaluation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties for yield and yield components at Kako, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Plant Sciences 2(4):129\u0026ndash;133\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAPPENDIXS\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAppendix 1. Mean Square Values for Crop Phenology and Growth Parameters of Sorghum at Simada district in 2020.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Improved, Participatory variety selection, Sorghum, Variety, Yield","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSorghum is a vital staple crop in the lowland areas of the South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, but its productivity is constrained by the use of late-maturing, low-yielding local varieties and limited access to improved seeds. This study evaluated the adaptation and farmer preference of seven improved lowland sorghum varieties and one local check across two districts (Ebinat and Simada) during the 2020/21 cropping season. The experiment used a mother-baby trial design, with researchers managing the replicated mother trials for agronomic data and farmers managing the baby trials for participatory evaluation. Results revealed highly significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01) differences among varieties for key agronomic traits. The varieties Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale were identified as high-yielding, with Melkam producing the highest grain yields (3980 kg ha⁻\u0026sup1; in Simada and 4130 kg ha⁻\u0026sup1; in Ebinat). Teshale was the earliest maturing variety. Through participatory evaluation using direct matrix and pair-wise ranking, farmers identified grain yield and earliness as their primary selection criteria, followed by striga resistance and biomass/tillering ability. Based on these criteria, farmers consistently preferred Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale, while Birhan and the local check were the least preferred. The study demonstrates that participatory varietal selection effectively identifies sorghum varieties that combine high yield potential with farmer-preferred traits, and recommends the promotion of Melkam, Girana-1, and Teshale in the lowland areas of South Gondar and similar agro-ecologies.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Participatory evaluation of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties, for yield and yield components in Low land Areas of South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-25 08:44:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8815749/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"0603b23f-7268-4923-be4f-161f3b9f0c96","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 25th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-29T05:25:22+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-25 08:44:05","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8815749","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8815749","identity":"rs-8815749","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}