PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF FABA BEAN (VICIA FABA L.) VARIETIES IN BUNO BEDELE ZONE OF SOUTH-WESTERN OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

A field experiment was carried out at Chora, Dabo Hana and Didesa districts in Buno Bedele zone of south western Oromia, Western Ethiopia, for two consecutive seasons (2021 to 2022 G.C) under rain fed conditions. The objective of the study was to evaluate and select best performing faba bean varieties. Twelve Faba bean varieties including the local check were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. The data on days to 50% flowering, days to 90% maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod and grain yield were collected. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variances using R- software. Combined analysis of variance revealed that there was significant difference for all studied traits except days to 50% flowering number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod, however, there were significant differences among varieties for all traits in each location. The highest grain yield was recorded from Walki (32.17 Qt ha-1), followed by Hachalu (30.40 Qt ha-1) while local check was the lowest yielder which is 16.74 Qt ha-1. Regarding the plant height, Hachalu possessed the tallest among the others which is 154.20cm and local check was records the shortest in height which is 133.01cm. Regarding maturity Gabalcho variety was the early mature and Alloshe was the latest mature one. Highly significant and positive association of grain yield with plant height and number of pods per plant were found. AMMI model shows that environment accounted 39.90%, GXE 3.89%, genotype 11.26% of the total variation. The high percentage of environment is an indication that the major factor that influence yield performance of Faba bean is the environment. The first IPCAs is the most accurate model that could be predicted the stability of the genotype and explained by IPCA-I (2.95%) and IPCA-II (0.90%) of GEI. GGE- Biplot and mean yield results revealed that Walki and Hachalu varieties are the most stable varieties across test locations. Therefore, these two were recommended for the study area and similar agro-ecologies.