Appropriate seed source and rate enhanced the productivity of bread wheat varieties under irrigated conditions in North Mecha, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Bread wheat is a strategic cereal crop produced ndederunder both irrigation and main rainy season in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. However, its productivity is low due to unreliable seed sources, inappropriate seed rate, and unavailability of adaptable improved varieties for a wide range of agro-ecologies. Therefore, an experiment aimed at evaluating the influence of seed sources, rates, and varieties on yield and yield-related traits under irrigated conditions was conducted during 2021 at North Mecha, Amhara region, Ethiopia, to provide information and knowledge for bread wheat researchers and producers. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a factorial arrangement of two varieties (Kakaba and Ogolcho), three seed sources (Ethiopia Seed Enterprise (ESE), Ediget Bandinet Seed Producing Cooperative Union (EBSPCU), and farmers with three seed rates (125, 150, and 175 kg ha-1). Basic agronomic and yield data were collected. The data were analyzed using SAS software. The results showed that productive tiller numbers, 50 % heading, number of kernels per spike, and plant height were significantly influenced by the interaction of seed source with variety. Interaction of variety with seed rate had also significantly influenced productive tiller number and 50 % heading. The highest grain yield (4.99 t/ha) was recorded on Kakaba variety sourced from Ediget Bandinet seed producing union sown at a rate of 150 kg ha^-1 followed by Ethiopia seed enterprise (4.31 t ha^-1) sown at the same seed rate. Kakaba seeds sourced from farmers produced the least grain yield. Therefore, using Kakaba seeds from the formal seed system like Edget Bandinet seed producing union sown at a rate of 150 kg ha^-1 could be recommended to increase the productivity of bread wheat under irrigated condition in north Mecha. It is also necessary to conduct experiments considering a greater number of seed sources, seed rates, and varieties in more than one cropping season and location to strengthen the current result.