Adaptation and participatory technology evaluation of bread wheat ( <i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) varieties under irrigation in the dry low- and mid-land areas of Wag-Lasta, Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is a vital cereal crop for food security, income, and agro-industrial development in Ethiopia. Its ability to adapt to both rainfed and irrigated systems makes it a key crop for improving livelihoods. However, the limited availability of heat-tolerant, high-yielding varieties has constrained productivity in the dry lowlands and midlands of Wag-Lasta. This study aimed to evaluate, identify, and promote high-yielding and adaptable bread wheat varieties for irrigated production in the Wag-Lasta area through farmer participation. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in two phases. The first phase involved a variety adaptation trial, and the second focused on participatory technology evaluation. In 2021, 22 bread wheat varieties were tested under irrigation: 8 in the lowland areas of the Abergele district and 14 in the midland areas of the Sekota district, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications on a plot size of 3.6 m 2 with the application of 100 NPSB and 50 kg and urea. Data on the plant and plot basis were collected and analyzed using SAS. After testing the significance difference among the varieties, mean separation was carried out using LSD at 5%. Based on performance data, four varieties were selected for further participatory evaluation: Gambo and Fentale-2 in the lowland and Adet-1 and Kakaba in the midland, along with Sekota-1 (check). The second phase, conducted during the 2023 irrigation season in Sekota and Lalibela districts, employed a simple block design with 100 m 2 plots. In total, 43 members of the farmers’ research extension group (FREG) were participated in the trial. Results: Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (P &lt; 0.01) among varieties for most traits in both sets of trials. Fentale-2 demonstrated consistent superior performance, achieving grain yields of 1962.8 and 2960 kg ha −1 in the adaptation and promotion phases, respectively. Farmers in both locations selected Fentale-2 as their preferred variety due to its high yield, adaptability, and field performance. Also, Gambo showed promising variety in lowland areas. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the Fentale-2 variety is adaptable and productive under irrigated conditions in the lowland and midland agroecologies of Wag-Lasta. Therefore, Fentale-2 can be recommended for Abergele, Sekota, Lalibela, and similar environments. Gambo is also among the top-performing wheat varieties for the lowland areas of Abregelle. The scaling up of these lowland wheat varieties has contributed significantly to reducing food insecurity in the target area. However, further research on irrigation frequency and other agronomic management practices is needed to enhance wheat productivity in the test location.