Performance and Stability of Food Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Varieties in the Highlands of East Hararghe, Ethiopia
Food barley is a staple crop in the Ethiopian highlands, yet productivity remains low due to the use of low-yielding local varieties. This study evaluated the performance and adaptability of 11 food barley varieties (Abdane, Adoshe, Biftu, Guta, Robera, Cross#41/98, EH-1493, Harbu, HB-1965, HB-1966, and one local check) across six environments (Gurawa, Jarso, and Meta districts over 2019 and 2021 main cropping seasons). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.01) among varieties, environments, and their interactions for all traits. AMMI analysis indicated that environment explained 62.71% of total variation, genotype 5.74%, and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) 14.13%. The first two principal components of GEI accounted for 77.37% of the interaction variation. Varieties Abdane (4.81 t ha -1 ) and Robera (4.41 t ha -1 ) recorded the highest grain yields, outperforming the local check by 31.4% and 25.2%, respectively. GGE biplot analysis identified Abdane and Robera as the most stable and high-yielding varieties across environments, while Guta, Harbu, Cross#41/98, and the local check were unstable. Therefore, Abdane and Robera are recommended for further demonstration and production in East Hararghe highlands and similar agro-ecologies.