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

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.