On-farm demonstration and evaluation of newly released Soybean (Glycine max) varieties with production technology in pre-extension approach at Karat zuria district, Konso zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Evaluation and demonstration of soybean technology was conducted at Karat zuria district of Konso zone in Southern Ethiopia in 2022/23 cropping season with the objectives of to analyze socio-economic profitability, farmers’ preference and acceptability under farmers’ conditions. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate newly a released soybean variety with production technology. The district was purposively selected based on potentiality for Soybean production. Two kebele’s were selected purposively based on potential of the crop.Farmers, development agents and kebele level administrative bodies were trained by the researchers. It was implemented on 20 farmer’s field and 2 FTCs at 200m² areas of adjacent fields with 40cm*5cm spacing b/n row and plant respectively and 60 kg/ha seed rate and 100 kg/ha NPS. All recommended agronomic practices were applied equally to all fields and the fields were closely supervised and properly managed. The highest (1,858.5 kg/ha) and (1,862.5kg/ ha) grain yield were recorded from Nyala variety at farmers field and FTC respectively. The result showed that there is no that much statistically significant difference at 5% probability level between Nyala and Gazale. The cost benefit analysis results also showed that using Gazale (37,873.75 ETB/ ha) can make farmers’ slightly profitable than Nyala (35,455 ETB/ ha). On both locations, even if Nyala performed better yield, farmers preferred Gazale variety in some important attributes, mainly in the attributes of seed size, seed color and marketability. Extension materials like banners, posters, brochures, leaflets were used during the field day to promote the technology. Therefore, Arba Minch Agricultural esearch centers and seed producer cooperatives should multiply the seeds of Gazale variety the extension system of the Konso zone, Karat zuria district office of Agriculture and similar agro-ecology  should expand  the soybean.

Keywords: Gazale; Grain yield; Karat zuria; Nyala; Production technology; Soybean; Technology transfer