Performance Evaluation of Malt Barley (<i>Hordeum Vulgare L</i>.) Varieties for Yield and Quality Attributes in East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region

Background: The production and productivity of Malt Barley is still low and area coverage has not been expanded due to lack of improved malt barley varieties. Hence Identification of adaptable quality malt barley varieties for specific environments is critical to enhance productivity. Objective: To evaluate and identify well adapted malt barley varieties for the study area. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Debre-Markos Agricultural Research Center and Sinan district from 2019 and 2020 main cropping season. Fifteen Malt barley varieties were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications at plot sizes of 2m width and 2.5m length. Results: The analysis of variance results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.001 among tested varieties. Varieties IBON174/03 (3125.00 kg h<sup>-1</sup>) and HB1964 (2929.17 kg h<sup>-1</sup>) scored maximum grain yield at DebreMarkos and IBON174/03 and M-21 scored maximum grain yield at Sinan district; The combined analysis of variance result showed that highly significant difference at P< 0.001. IBON174/03 (2736.08 kg h<sup>-1</sup>), HB 1964 (2362.08 kg h<sup>-1</sup>), and M-21 (2301.28 kg h<sup>-1</sup>) varieties were the first three best performing varieties with an average grain yield greater than the grand mean. The analysis of variance for quality traits revealed that there is significant variation among tested varieties for all traits. Varieties M-21(11.32%), EH1847 (10.65%), IBON174/03(9.96%), and HB1964 (9.77%) scored the acceptable range of kernel protein content. Conclusion: The three varieties; IBON174/03, M-21, and HB1964 were relatively high yielder and fulfilled the acceptable range of standards set by the National Standard Authority for kernel protein content of malting barley. Therefore; these varieties are recommended for production in the East Gojjam zone and similar agro-ecologies. Further studies are required for malting quality parameters on malt barley varieties across locations.