Yield Performance and Adaptability of Improved Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-graecum L.) Varieties in Buno Bedele Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia
Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a multi-purpose spice and medicinal crop with substantial nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial significance. Despite its potential, varietal adaptability remains poorly documented in diverse agro-ecologies of Southwestern Ethiopia. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023-2024 main cropping season in the Buno Bedele Zone to identify adaptable and high-yielding fenugreek varieties. Five improved varieties were evaluated using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications across representative environments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the main effects of variety and environment significantly (P < 0.01) influenced phenological parameters, growth traits, and yield components. However, the variety-by-environment interaction was non-significant for all traits, indicating that the varieties exhibited a consistent performance across the study environments. The highest mean seed yield (1.43 t ha - 1 ) was recorded from the Ebissa variety, which was statistically superior to other varieties, followed by Burka (1.20 t ha - 1 ). In contrast, the lowest yield (0.79 t ha - 1 ) was observed in the Hundaol variety. Based on their superior biological performance and consistent yield across environments, Ebissa and Burka are recommended for large-scale on-farm demonstration and subsequent promotion to smallholder farmers in the Buno Bedele Zone and similar agro-ecologies.