Forage Yield, Nutrient Composition, and In-Vitro Digestibility of Ten Intermediate Maturing Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculate) Genotypes Under Various Ecology of Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted in West Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. The trial was conducted at mid to lowland agroecologies for two years to evaluate cowpea genotypes' agronomic performance and nutritional quality under different environments. Ten genotypes and two standard checks were used as experimental treatments in RCBD with three replications. All agronomic and yield parameters showed statistically significant (p<0.05) variation among genotypes but did not show significant (P>0.05) differences among the genotypes in Ash, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The overall mean of 50% flowering days of three locations ranged from 40.14 to 73.67 and the mean of days to maturity ranged from 107.75 to 129.3 and the shortest days to maturity recorded for kenketi variety at all locations over the years. The highest dry matter yield was recorded from genotype ILRI#25368 and the lowest from kenketi variety and the highest grain yield was recorded from genotype ILRI#11988 (24.30 quintal/ha) followed by ILRI#25368 (23.36 quintal/ha) whereas the lowest grain yield recorded from genotype ILRI#9341 (14.05quintal/ha). The most disease-susceptible genotype was ILRI#11988 (2.44) and the most disease-tolerant genotype was ILRI#25367 (1.22) followed by 25368 (1.39). The most pests-affected genotypes/variety was Kenketi (2.78) and the most pests (aphids) tolerant genotype was ILRI#9359 (1.11). Further, research should be conducted on production performance under farmer’s conditions, awareness of its importance and stage of utilization, and conservation techniques of these genotypes should be conducted for wider cultivation in the area.