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† Corresponding author 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 

STUDY ON ADAPTABILITY OF RELEASED MIDLAND MAIZE VARIETIES 

AROUND SOUTH ARI WOREDA, SOUTH OMO ZONE, SOUTHERN NATION 

NATIONALITY PEOPLES REGION, ETHIOPIA  

 

Wedajo Gebre1 --- Tekle Yoseph2 
1,2Jinka Agricultural Research Centre, South Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia 

 

ABSTRACT 

Ten released maize varieties were tasted at two sites in randomized complete block design with three 
replication during 2013 cropping season. The experiment was carried out to test the adaptability of 
improved mid-altitude maize varieties and identify and select the best high yielding   variety/ies for the 
target area. ANOVA revealed significant differences (p<0.05 and 0.01) between varieties for grain yield at 
both sites and six characters studied (biomass, plant height, ear length, tassel length and northern corn leaf 
blight). The significance of varieties difference indicates the presence of variability for each of the characters 
among the tested entries. The mean grain yield at both sites ranged from 71.7 qt/ha for BH545 to 
108.71qt/ha for BH670. Shapi (84.38qt/ha) site was low yielding location than Gumter site 
(92.31qt/ha). Varieties BH660, BH540, BH140, Gibe -2 and BH670 had high mean grain yield and had 
good mean performance for yield related traits (biomass, ear length and tassel size), except BH540 that 
sowed high  susceptible to northern corn leaf blight. Variety Gibe-2 is open pollinated; possible for farmers 
to recycle seed up to five year and also it had relatively high mean grain yield, moderate tolerant to northern 
corn leaf blight and it was the shortest one. Therefore; Gibe -2 would be  highly recommended to growing 
farmers in the studied area and its vicinity, next the two hybrids; BH540 and BH140 would be 
recommended from yield point of view with great care of disease especially northern corn leaf blight. 
Further study should be carried out with disease management and improved varieties to improve maize 
production with increased yield and biomass production. 

Keywords: Adaptation, Hybrid, Maize, Open pollinated varieties, South Ari, South Omo. 

 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Maize is one of the most important field crops in terms of area coverage, production, and 

economic importance in Ethiopia. It grows from sea level to over 2,600 masl., from moisture 

deficit semi-arid lowlands, mid-altitude and highlands to moisture surplus areas in the humid 

lowlands, mid-altitudes and highlands. Of these ecologies, the mid- and low-altitude sub humid 

maize agro-ecologies are well known for maize cultivation in Ethiopia. The mid-altitude is mainly 

located in western, southern, eastern and central regions while the low altitude is found in the 

south western parts of the country. The weather conditions characterized by warm temperatures 

and sufficient volumes of rainfall coupled with the relatively fertile soils of these regions creates 

favorable conditions for maize cultivation [1] 

In Ethiopia cereals account for about 80% of the annual crop production and maize is the first 

in total production and yield per unit area and second in area coverage among all the cereals. 

 
 
 
 
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2014 Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 95-102 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 
 
 
 
 



 
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2014, 1(4): 95-102 

 

 

96 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Total area covered by maize during the 2006/07 growing season was 1.7 million ha and the 

national average yield was about 2.2 t ha-1 [2]. In southern region, from the total land size of 

1,066,825.51 hectares planted to all grain crops, cereals covered 859,340.71 hectares with a total 

production of 14,801,477.56 quintals.   

Maize improvement in Ethiopia started half a century ago. During the late1960s and early 

1970s, several promising hybrids and composite varieties of East African origin were introduced 

and evaluated at different locations. These resulted in the recommendation of several maize 

varieties for the maize growing regions of the country [3]. 

Crops like tef, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, finger millet and oats/'aja' with regional 

productivity (q/ha) of 11.18, 23.45, 18.65, 17.74, 16.26, 11.23, 9.56, respectively are cereals grown 

in different agro-ecologies of southern region [4]. From this regional productivity list, it can be 

realized that the productivity of all crops is too low which is less than half of the potential 

productivity which could be obtained through using improved production technologies. 

The survey report which conducted at regional level jointly by Southern Agricultural 

Research Institute (SARI) and Bureau of Agriculture in 2008, also confirmed that the yield 

obtained from the local cultivars is too low. And in many parts of the region, lack of improved 

crops varieties and associated improved management and protection practices are some of the 

major constraints in the crop production systems; i.e.’ farmers in many remote areas of the region 

even do not know the existence of the new crop varieties.  

To resolve specific agricultural productivity constraints in the region, several works have 

been done at regional level. Massive movement to test suitability of the existing technologies on 

different cereal crops such as maize, bread wheat, tef and food barley has been carried out in 

different agro-ecologies and the best technologies were pre-scaled up in some localities of the 

region. Even though only few localities were reached with limited number of technologies in the 

last two years, an appreciable improvement in crop productivity was realized in the target areas.   

To advance improvement of crop productivity in different localities, continual identification 

of the best and suitable crop technologies appeared to be essential. This can be achieved, through 

adaptability tests and generation of new technologies.  

Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted around South Ari Woreda to compare 

the performance of hybrid, open pollinated and commercial varieties for their adaptability and 

stability with the following objectives:- 

1. To evaluate the adaptability and performance of the  improved varieties released for mid-

altitude  

2. To identify and select the best performing  variety/ies for the target area 

 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 

2.1. Experimental Site 

South Ari woreda belongs to the agro‐ecological classification of hot to warm sub‐moist 

lowlands. The woreda is divided into 48 kebeles, it has an average altitude of 1600 m.a.s.l. The 



 
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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

rainfall pattern of the woreda is bimodal. It has average rain fall of 900mm and annually it ranges 

between 1400-3200mm and the mean annual temperature is 200c. About 37% of the is ‘dega’ and 

60% ‘woina dega’, while 3 % is considered as ‘Wirch’.  The major crops produced in the area are 

maize, sorghum, barley, wheat, teff, finger millet from cereals, haricot bean, faba bean, field pea, 

ground nut from pulses and cash crops such as coffee, kororima and chat. The farming calendar 

for these major crops varied depending on the season. In the main season ‘Belg’ which has long 

rain fall start from February/March, the land preparation starts from December. The second 

season ‘Mihere’ receive rain fall from Agust and last 2nd weeks of December. Major crops 

produced during this season are maize, barely, wheat and finer millet in large. The predominant 

form of crop production in the study area is rain-fed. The productivity of farmland is influenced 

by the availability of improved technologies and other production factors. As reported that the 

average productivity of major crops was 20-25, 10-20, and 9-12 quintals per hectare for maize, 

sorghum and common bean respectively.  

 

2.2. Experimental Materials and Design  

The experiment was based on ten released midland maize varieties which were obtained from 

Bako Agricultural research center. Out of these two varieties namely Gibe- 1and Gibe-2 were 

open pollinated those obtained through mass selection where as the rest were hybrid varieties. 

Description of the experimental materials with their yield potential is shown in Table-1 below. 

 

Table-1. Description of ten maize Varieties with their agro-ecological adaptations 

Variety  Source/origin Year of 
realease  

   Altitude 
    (masl) 

 Rainfall 
(mm) 

Days to 
maturity  

  Yield (qt/ha)  

Research 
station 

Farmer
s field 

Hybrid  
   BH540 

 
EIAR 

1995 
2002 
2005 
2008 

1,000-2,000 1,000-
1,200    

      145 80-90 50-65 

   BH542† 

   BH543      
   BH545† 

CIMMYT 
EIAR/CIMMY
T 
 
CIMMYT 

1,000-1,800 
1,000-2,000 
1,000-1,800 

1,000-1,200 
1,000-1,200 

 
1,000-1,200 

 145 
148 
144 

70-85 
85-110 
80-95 

50-60 
55-65 
55-60 

   BH660 EIAR 1993 1,600-2,200 1,000-1,500  160 90-120 60-80 

   BH661 EIAR/CIMMY
T 

 2011 1,600-2,200 1,000-1,500  160 95-120 65-85 

   BH670 
   BH-140 

EIAR 
EIAR 

2002 
1988 

1,700-2,400 
1,000-1,700 

1,000-1,500 
1,000-1,200 

     165 
145 

90-120 
75-85 

60-80 
45-60 

OPVs 
   Gibe-1 

 
EIAR 

 
2000 

 
1,000-1,700 

 
1,000-1,200 

  
145 

 
60-70 

 
40-45 

   Gibe-2 CIMMYT 2001    300-1,000 900-1,200  116 65-70 45-50 

Source: Proceedings of the Third National Maize Workshop of Ethiopia April 18–20, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 

OPVs=open pollinated varieties, EIAR= Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, † =  Quality protein maize, 

BH=Bako hybrid  

 



 
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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Randomized complete block design with three replications was used to conduct the 

experiments per site. Seeds were planted in rows with two seeds per hill at a rate of 25kg/ha in a 

plot consisting of six row each of 6m long and 5m wide and seedlings were thinned into one plant 

per hill four weeks after emergence to obtain 144 plants per plot. The inter row spacing was 

0.75m, while the intra row spacing was 0.25m, giving population density of 53,333 plants per 

hectare. Fertilizers were applied at the rate of 100/100 kg/ha DAP/Urea. Urea was applied in 

split (half at planting and the other half at knee height). First weed control was carried out after 

three weeks of planting/ after 21 days of planting/. 

 

3. DATA COLLECTION 

The middle four rows (18m2) were used for data collection and harvested at maturity. 

Individual plant base data as well as plot base data were collected on seven traits of maize 

varieties. Data collected on individual plant basis from five randomly selected plants were, plant 

height (cm), Ear length (cm), ears per plant, tassel length (cm) and cob weight (gm). The 

randomly selected plants were carefully uprooted at physiological maturity to measure growth 

parameters.  Data collected on plot basis included grain yield (qt/ha) and biomass (qt/ha). 

Disease incidence was recorded from 96 plants in the central four rows of each plot and was 

converted into the percentage of plants showing symptoms. Disease severity was assessed as 

proportion of the area covered by lesions on each leaf of 5 randomly taken and tagged plants in 

the central two rows of each plot and the mean of all leaves was considered as the value for a plot.  

 

4. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 

All necessary data were recorded and being subjected to analysis [5]. Analysis of variance 

was performed using the GLM procedure of SAS Statistical Software [5]. Effects were 

considered significant in all statistical if the P-values were < 0.05. Means were separated using 

Duncan’s multiple range (Duncan) test. 

 

5. RESULT AND DISCUSSION  

The analysis of variance for the 7 characters studied is given in Table 2. All the characters 

showed significant (p<0.05 and 0.01) difference among the tested varieties. The significance of 

varieties difference indicates the presence of variability for each of the characters among the 

tested entries. Also varieties showed significant difference for disease reaction (NCB) at  Gumter 

site. 

Thus, varieties respond differently to Northern corn leaf blight effect. Gumter site 

discriminated between the varieties more effectively (7 characters) than Shapi, because it allows 

varieties to express their potential fully. 

Statistical analysis showed significant differences for grain yield among the varieties. The 

mean grain yield at both sites (table 3.) ranged from 71.7 qt/ha for BH545 to 108.71qt/ha for 

BH670 at Gumter site. Gumter site gave high yield of 92.31qt/ha than Shapi site. BH670 gave 



 
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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

highest yield at both sites and showed relatively consistence performance across test sites. BH660 

and standard check (BH-140) gave highest yield at Gumter site. Variety BH540 gave highest 

yield at Shapi followed by BH670 and Gibe- 1 respectively. Similar results were reported by 

Ahmad, et al. [6] and Souza, et al. [7] who evaluated and identified high yielding maize varieties 

among different genotypes tested. Akbar, et al. [8] also reported significant differences among 

maize cultivars for grain yield.  

In terms disease (Table 4); Gibe -1, BH540 and BH 543 were severely affected by Northern 

corn leaf blight. BH542, BH545 and BH140 were moderately affected. Gibe -2, BH670 and BH660 

were less affected. The least affected variety was BH661, which showed high tolerance to 

Northern corn leaf blight.  

 

Table-2. The mean squares for different sources of variation and the corresponding CV (%) for 

the 7 characters studied at Gumter and Shapi site, in 2013 

 

**,* Indicate significance at 0.01, 0.05 probability levels respectively, Ns=not-significantly different, figures in parenthesis 

refer to degrees of freedom, GY= grain yield (qt/ha), BM= Biomass (qt/ha), PH = Plant height (cm), EL=Ear length 

(cm), TL= Tassel length (cm), Cobe wt= Cobe weight per plot (gm), and NCLB=Northern corn leaf blight 

 

All varieties showed significant difference for biomass, plant height, Ear length, Tassel 

length and Northern corn leaf blight. The mean biomass ranged from 1315.6 qt/ha for BH545 to 

3520 qt/ha for BH661. BH660 and BH661 gave highest biomass yield followed by BH540 and 

BH670 respectively. BH660 and BH661 had the highest plant height (311.40a &314.46a) while 

short saturated plants of (232.06cm &219.20cm) were recorded for variety BH545 and Gibe 2 

respectively. As mentioned above table.1, maize varieties used in the present study had diverse 

genetic composition and as a consequence produced varying plant height ranging from 219.20 to 

314.46 cm. Tahir, et al. [9] reported that plant height is genetically as well as environmental 

controlled factor, however the selection of proper crop cultivar manages the influence of 

environment. Revilla, et al. [10] also reported differential pattern of maize varieties for plant 

height due to genotype and environment interaction. However, plant height has no correlation 

with grain yield. Olakojo and Iken [11] reported maize varieties differed in plant height but had 

statistically similar grain yield. 

 

 



 
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2014, 1(4): 95-102 

 

 

100 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Table-3. Mean grain yield (qt/ha) of verities over locations during 2013 

No. Varieties Gumter site Shapi  site  Variety   mean 
1 BH540 94.40abc 104.11a 99.26 
2 BH542 89.07abc 82.07c 85.57 
3 BH543 83.41bc 83.08c 83.25 
4 BH545 71.70c 73.75c 72.73 

5 BH660 106.68ab 74.07c 90.38 
6 BH661 88.80abc 82.72c 85.76 
7 BH670 108.71a 101.81ab 105.26 
8 Gibe-1 84.12abc 85.20bc 84.66 
9 Gibe-2 94.83abc 77.16c 86.00 
10 BH-140 101.33ab 79.78c 90.56 

Site mean    92.31 84.38  
CV(%)   13.87 11.57  
Critical Range  (21.97, 25.29) (16.75, 19.29)  

BH=Bako hybrid, a=highest, b=medium, c=poor, d=poorest, e=bad mean performance, varieties having same letters are 

same in mean performance for grain yield. 

 

Varieties BH670 and BH660 had longest ear and tassel length respectively (Table 4). 

Varieties BH540, BH140 and Gibe-2 had shortest ear length. BH542 had shortest tassel length 

while BH540, BH543, BH545, Gibe-2 and BH-140 had medium tassel length. 

 

Table-4. Mean performance ten verities at Gumter site, 2013 

Variety  BM(qt/ha) PH(cm) EL(cm) TL(cm) NCLB(scale) 

BH540 2026.7b 248.13cd 28.20d 49.13abc 74.20ab 
BH542 1635.6b 252.53c 28.80cd 41.13c 45.67cd 
BH543 1671.1b 241.26cd 32.13abcd 44.53bc 66.33abc 
BH545 1315.6b 232.06ed 34.26abc 46.40bc 45.00cd 
BH660 3200.0a 311.40a 35.13ba 56.80a 38.00d 
BH661 3520.0a 314.46a 30.73bcd 51.33ab 7.60e 
BH670 2026.7b 273.00b 37.00a 52.53ab 41.33d 

Gibe-1 1493.3b 256.80bc 29.73cd 51.20ab 89.33a 
Gibe-2 1600.0b 219.26e 27.66d 43.80bc 37.00d 
BH140 
CV(%) 
Critical range 

1635.6b 
  26.23 
(898,1034) 

243.26cd 
   3.70 
(16.46,18.96) 

28.00d 
 10.10 
(5.4,6.21) 

46.06bc 
9.86 

(8.16,9.40) 

57.20bcd 
 25.84 
(22.24,25.61) 

a=highest, b=medium, c=poor, d=poorest, e=bad mean performance, varieties having same letters are same in mean 

performance for that trait. BM=Biomass (qt/ha), PH = Plant height (cm), EL=Ear length (cm), TL= Tassel length (cm) 

and NCLB=Northern corn leaf blight 

 

6. SUMMERY AND CONCLUSION 

Maize is one of the most important field crops in terms of area coverage, production, and 

economic importance in Ethiopia. It grows from sea level to over 2,600 masl., from moisture 

deficit semi-arid lowlands, mid-altitude and highlands to moisture surplus areas in the humid 

lowlands, mid-altitudes and highlands. Maize improvement in Ethiopia started half a century ago. 

During the late1960s and early 1970s, several promising hybrids and composite varieties of East 



 
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2014, 1(4): 95-102 

 

 

101 
© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

African origin were introduced and evaluated at different locations. These resulted in the 

recommendation of several maize varieties for the maize growing regions of the country [3]. 

To advance improvement of crop productivity in different localities, continual identification 

of the best and suitable crop technologies appeared to be essential. This can be achieved, through 

adaptability tests and generation of new technologies.  

Ten released maize varieties were tasted at two sites in randomized complete block design 

with three replication during 2013 cropping season. The experiment was carried out to test the 

adaptability of improved mid-altitude maize varieties and identify and select the best high 

yielding   variety/ies for the target area. 

Significant differences between varieties were observed for grain yield at both sites and six 

characters studied (biomass, plant height, ear length, tassel length and northern corn leaf blight). 

The mean grain yield at both sites ranged from 71.7 qt/ha for BH545 to 108.71qt/ha for 

BH670. Shapi (84.38qt/ha) site gave low yield than Gumter site (92.31qt/ha). Based on mean 

grain yield, BH670, BH540, BH140 and BH660 gave highest yield across both sites (Table 3). 

At Gumter site (Table 4) the mean biomass was ranged from 1315.6 for BH545 to 3520 qt/ha 

for BH661. Accordingly, BH660 and BH661 gave highest biomass followed by BH540 and BH670 

respectively. The tallest varieties were BH660 and BH661 while the shortest variety was Gibe-2, 

and the mean plant height was ranges from 219.26 for Gibe-2 to 314.46 for BH661. Mean ear 

length ranged from 27.66 for Gibe-2 to 37.0 for BH670 and mean tassel length ranged from 41.13 

for BH542 to 56.80 for BH660 respectively. Varieties BH670, BH660, BH545 and Gibe-2 showed 

high tolerance to northern corn leaf blight but Gibe-1, BH540 and BH543 showed susceptible to 

north corn leaf blight.  

In general, varieties BH660, BH540, BH140, Gibe -2 and BH670 had high mean grain yield 

and had good mean performance for yield related traits (biomass, ear length and tassel size), 

except BH540 that sowed high  susceptible to northern corn leaf blight.  But varieties BH660 and 

BH670 had highest mean plant height; which implies varieties are susceptible to lodging and also 

they take long time to mature (Table 1.).  Variety Gibe-2 is open pollinated; possible for farmers 

to recycle seed up to five year and also it had relatively high mean grain yield, moderate tolerant 

to northern corn leaf blight and it was the shortest one. Therefore; Gibe -2 would be  highly 

recommended to growing farmers in the studied area and its vicinity, next the two hybrids; 

BH540 and BH140 would be recommended from yield point of view with great care of disease 

especially northern corn leaf blight. Further study should be carried out with disease management 

and improved varieties to improve maize production with increased yield and biomass production. 

 

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Mexico, DF, 2012. 



 
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© 2014 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

[2] CSA, Central statistical agency. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2007. 

[3] B. Abdurahman, Genotype by environment interaction and yield stability of maize hybrids evaluated in 

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[9] M. Tahir, A. Tanveer, A. Ali, M. Abbas, and A. Wasaya, "Comparative yield performance of 

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[10] P. Revilla, P. Velasco, M. I. Vales, R. A. Malvar, and A. Ordas, "Cultivar heterosis between sweet 

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