Agronomic Traits of Trifolium Species in Different Agroecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz Region

Abstract

Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate Trifolium species for their agronomic traits in
two agro-ecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz region, North Western Ethiopia. The
experiment was carried out at Tongo, Assosa, and Kamash forage research
stations of Assosa Agricultural Research Center, which were purposively selected
to represent highland, mid and lowland agro-ecologies respectively. Five
Trifolium genotypes (T. steudeneri 9720, T. decorum 9447, T. quantinum 6301, T.
tembense 7102, and T. steudeneri 9712) were evaluated in a randomized complete
block design with three replications. Plant height at forage harvesting, forage dry
matter yield and leaf to stem ratio were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by
environment (E) and G x E (G and E interaction). The highest mean forage dry
matter yield was recorded at Kamash, than Assosa and Tongo. The result of
combined analysis indicated that, genotype (G) had significant (P < 0.001) effect
on forage dry matter yield and T. quantinum 6301 genotype was the best yielder
among the genotypes evaluated. Total dry matter yield was significantly different
(P < 0.001) among genotypes at Tongo and Assosa. Generally, based on forage
dry matter yield data, T. quantinum 6301 was well performed at Assosa and
Tongo than other genotypes, T. steudenary 9720 was relatively better adapted at
Kamash, and they are recommended as an alternative legume forage crops for the
respective locations.