Optimizing inter-row spacing for yield and stability of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties in western Ethiopian Highlands

{"Food":[0],"barley":[1,35,71],"(":[2],"Hordeum":[3],"vulgare":[4],"L.)":[5],"is":[6,55,349],"a":[7,144,148,335],"staple":[8],"in":[9,49,110,122,143,342],"the":[10,50,62,114,195],"Ethiopian":[11,53],"highlands,":[12],"but":[13,203,272],"productivity":[14],"remains":[15],"constrained":[16],"by":[17,227],"suboptimal":[18],"agronomic":[19],"practices,":[20],"particularly":[21],"inappropriate":[22],"row":[23,46],"spacing":[24,47,65,193,276,292,303,322],"and":[25,77,88,105,164,175,181,218,240,255,277],"limited":[26],"adoption":[27],"of":[28,40,307],"improved":[29],"varieties.":[30,295],"Despite":[31],"extensive":[32],"research":[33],"on":[34,159],"agronomy,":[36],"systematic":[37],"multi-environment":[38,318],"evaluation":[39],"recently":[41,68],"released":[42,69],"varieties":[43,72,137],"under":[44],"varying":[45],"regimes":[48],"underexplored":[51],"western":[52,111,308],"highlands":[54],"lacking.":[56],"This":[57,317],"study":[58],"aimed":[59],"to":[60,78,168,229,311,327],"determine":[61],"optimum":[63],"inter-row":[64,126],"for":[66,304,340],"five":[67,136],"food":[70],"across":[73,244,313],"contrasting":[74],"highland":[75,305,344],"environments":[76,121,285],"evaluate":[79],"genotype":[80],"×":[81,83,275,279],"environment":[82,274,278],"management":[84],"interactions,":[85],"yield":[86,162,165,199,265,329],"stability,":[87,174],"yield-determining":[89],"traits.":[90],"Field":[91],"experiments":[92],"were":[93,133,166],"conducted":[94],"over":[95],"two":[96],"consecutive":[97],"seasons":[98],"(2022–2023)":[99],"at":[100,300],"Gitilo":[101],"(2,800":[102],"m":[103,108],"a.s.l.)":[104,109],"Harato":[106],"(2,500":[107],"Ethiopia,":[112,309],"with":[113,135,153,207,222,293],"four":[115],"location–year":[116],"combinations":[117],"treated":[118],"as":[119,263],"independent":[120],"all":[123,187,234],"analyses.":[124,178],"Four":[125],"spacings":[127],"(10,":[128],"15,":[129],"20,":[130],"25":[131,219,223],"cm)":[132],"combined":[134,169],"(HB1307,":[138],"Cross,":[139],"EH1493,":[140],"Diribi,":[141],"Kulumisa)":[142],"factorial":[145],"arrangement":[146],"using":[147],"randomised":[149],"complete":[150],"block":[151],"design":[152],"three":[154],"replications":[155],"per":[156],"environment.":[157],"Data":[158],"phenology,":[160],"growth,":[161],"components,":[163],"subjected":[167],"ANOVA,":[170],"GGE":[171],"biplot,":[172],"AMMI":[173],"path":[176],"coefficient":[177],"Environment,":[179],"spacing,":[180],"variety":[182,280],"main":[183],"effects":[184],"significantly":[185,214],"influenced":[186],"traits":[188],"(P<0.01).":[189],"The":[190,267],"15":[191,301],"cm":[192,209,217,220,224,302],"produced":[194],"highest":[196],"numerical":[197],"grain":[198],"(4,796":[200],"kg":[201,211,238],"ha⁻¹)":[202,239],"was":[204,270],"statistically":[205],"comparable":[206,343],"10":[208],"(4,733":[210],"ha⁻¹);":[212],"both":[213],"exceeded":[215],"20":[216],"spacings,":[221],"reducing":[225],"yields":[226],"up":[228],"17%.":[230],"Variety":[231],"HB1307":[232,298],"out-yielded":[233],"others":[235],"(mean":[236],"5,071":[237],"showed":[241],"superior":[242],"stability":[243],"environments.":[245],"Path":[246],"analysis":[247],"identified":[248],"aboveground":[249],"biomass":[250],"(direct":[251,259],"effect":[252,260],"=":[253,261],"0.612)":[254],"fertile":[256],"tiller":[257],"number":[258],"0.237)":[262],"primary":[264],"drivers.":[266],"three-way":[268],"interaction":[269],"non-significant,":[271],"significant":[273],"interactions":[281],"indicated":[282],"that":[283,324],"stress":[284],"(Harato":[286],"2022)":[287],"benefit":[288],"from":[289],"slightly":[290],"narrower":[291],"early-maturing":[294],"We":[296],"recommend":[297],"sown":[299],"areas":[306],"subject":[310],"validation":[312,348],"broader":[314,347],"agro-ecological":[315],"conditions.":[316],"trial":[319],"provides":[320],"evidence-based":[321],"recommendations":[323],"can":[325],"contribute":[326],"closing":[328],"gaps":[330],"without":[331],"additional":[332],"inputs,":[333],"offering":[334],"potential":[336],"climate-smart":[337],"intensification":[338],"strategy":[339],"smallholders":[341],"agro-ecologies,":[345],"although":[346],"warranted.\\"":[350]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Scientific African
Published
2026-09-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03643
Primary Topic
Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Optimizing inter-row spacing for yield and stability of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties in western Ethiopian Highlands

Usman Mohammed Ali, Alemu Beyene Aleka
Scientific African
Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
article

Optimizing inter-row spacing for yield and stability of food barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties in western Ethiopian Highlands

Usman Mohammed Ali, Alemu Beyene Aleka
article en

Abstract

Food barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) is a staple in the Ethiopian highlands, but productivity remains constrained by suboptimal agronomic practices, particularly inappropriate row spacing and limited adoption of improved varieties. Despite extensive research on barley agronomy, systematic multi-environment evaluation of recently released varieties under varying row spacing regimes in the underexplored western Ethiopian highlands is lacking. This study aimed to determine the optimum inter-row spacing for five recently released food barley varieties across contrasting highland environments and to evaluate genotype × environment × management interactions, yield stability, and yield-determining traits. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive seasons (2022–2023) at Gitilo (2,800 m a.s.l.) and Harato (2,500 m a.s.l.) in western Ethiopia, with the four location–year combinations treated as independent environments in all analyses. Four inter-row spacings (10, 15, 20, 25 cm) were combined with five varieties (HB1307, Cross, EH1493, Diribi, Kulumisa) in a factorial arrangement using a randomised complete block design with three replications per environment. Data on phenology, growth, yield components, and yield were subjected to combined ANOVA, GGE biplot, AMMI stability, and path coefficient analyses. Environment, spacing, and variety main effects significantly influenced all traits (P<0.01). The 15 cm spacing produced the highest numerical grain yield (4,796 kg ha⁻¹) but was statistically comparable with 10 cm (4,733 kg ha⁻¹); both significantly exceeded 20 cm and 25 cm spacings, with 25 cm reducing yields by up to 17%. Variety HB1307 out-yielded all others (mean 5,071 kg ha⁻¹) and showed superior stability across environments. Path analysis identified aboveground biomass (direct effect = 0.612) and fertile tiller number (direct effect = 0.237) as primary yield drivers. The three-way interaction was non-significant, but significant environment × spacing and environment × variety interactions indicated that stress environments (Harato 2022) benefit from slightly narrower spacing with early-maturing varieties. We recommend HB1307 sown at 15 cm spacing for highland areas of western Ethiopia, subject to validation across broader agro-ecological conditions. This multi-environment trial provides evidence-based spacing recommendations that can contribute to closing yield gaps without additional inputs, offering a potential climate-smart intensification strategy for smallholders in comparable highland agro-ecologies, although broader validation is warranted."

Scientific AfricanVol. 34
Wollega University (ET)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.