Bread wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) varieties trails: Farmer Preference, Adaptation and Performance in irrigable lowland area of eastern Hararghe zone, eastern Ethiopia

Wheat is one of the most crucial and strategic food crops for the majority of the Ethiopian population. One of the key factors contributing to agricultural productivity growth is the expansion of Agricultural irrigation practices. The government extensively imported wheat, especially from Russia and Ukraine, in an effort to ensure food security, but these imports could not fully address the challenge. During the 2021/22 dry season, experiments were conducted in the Babile, Deder, and Gola Oda districts of the eastern Hararghe zone to promote the adaptation of bread wheat varieties to irrigation-based practices in different agro-ecological conditions. The experiment followed a lattice design with a factorial arrangement and three replications. Each plot measured 22 m long and 19 m wide, and 25 bread wheat varieties were grown across the three sites. The results indicated that the soil in these areas can retain essential plant nutrients in sufficient quantities. However, irrigation water salinity is high in Babile and Gola Oda, with sulfate-sodium chloride faces and a high alkaline risk. This highlights the need to enhance the timely availability of plant-essential nutrients and water. The adaptation of wheat varieties to different soil fertility, health, and water quality conditions varied across the agro-ecological study areas. Based on the analysis of crop varieties from the three sites, the Ogolcho, Boru, and Kulkulu varieties were identified as high-yielding and more stable in Gola Oda, Deder, and Babile, respectively. These varieties are considered adaptable to a wide range of agro-ecological conditions. The three varieties - Ogolcho, Boru, and Kulkulu - were identified as ideal in terms of yielding ability, stability, tolerance to moisture stress, and better agronomic performance during the multi-location evaluation.