Evaluation of Lablab purpureus accessions in two agro-ecologies of Benishangulgumuz, Western Ethiopia

A study was conducted to evaluate L. purpureus accessions for their agronomic traits under two agro-ecologies of Benishangul-Gumuz region. The experiment was carried out at Assosa and Kamash forage research stations of Assosa Agricultural Research Center were purposively selected to represent mid and lowland agro-ecologies respectively. Four Lablab purpureus accessions (L. purpureus 147, 11609, 11640, and 6529) were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. The general linear model procedures of SAS and least significance difference for data analysis and mean separation were employed respectively. Environment (E) had significant effect on plant height at forage harvesting (P < 0.001), forage dry matter yield (P < 0.01) and leaf to stem ratio (P < 0.01). L. purpureus genotypes planted at Kamash had longer plant height and dry matter yielder than Assosa, however leaf to stem ratio was higher at Assosa. Genotype (G) and G x E (G and E interaction) had no significant P > 0.05) effect on forage dry matter yield, plant height and leaf to stem ratio. In conclusion, environment had significant effect on forage dry matter yield, leaf to stem ratio and plant height, therefore evaluations of yield performance and adaptation patterns of L. purpureus genotype in multipleenvironments are very important step in agronomic evaluation and selection of better adapted and high yielding genotype.