Abstract

Seven sorghum genotypes obtained from Melkassa Agricultural Research Center and local check collected from Assosa district were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications under farmers’ participatory selection scheme in western part of Ethiopia during 2013 main cropping season. The objectives of this experiment were to select superior intermediate sorghum varieties in the study area and to identify farmers’ preference and selection criteria. Farmers’ set; grain yield, early maturity and bird damage resistance as selection criteria at maturity stage of the crop. The results of analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences among genotypes for all traits tested at 1% probability level. The highest mean grain yield was obtained from the genotype Adukara (4017 Kg ha^-1) whereas the lowest from the variety Geremew (1050 Kg ha^-1). Likewise, local-check (8667 Kg ha^-1) and Adukara (7651 Kg ha^-1) had given comparatively the highest above ground biomass yield which will be used as a good source of feed for animals in the study area. The maximum percentage of  bird damage was recorded from early matured genotypes Geremew (33.34%) and IS-9302 (31.67%) whereas the least obtained from late matured genotypes Adukara (5%), Baji (8%) and local-check (10%). Farmers’ evaluation of direct matrix ranking showed Adukara (score 27) and RAYA (score 25) were the most preferred genotypes and IS-9302 (18) the least one. Likewise, pair-wise ranking revealed that Adukara and RAYA were chosen equally, six times by farmers to be the most important ones. Therefore, the genotypes Adukara and RAYA were chosen for their performance in the experimental field and also acceptable from farmers' participatory evaluation. Thus, based on the results of this study and previous works done on sorghum in Assosa Agricultural Research Center the selected varieties need to be multiplied and distributed to farmers.

Key words: Bird damage, direct-matrix, genotype, pair-wise ranking, participatory evaluation, selection scheme.