Farmers’ evaluation and economic viability of Urochloa grasses grown on Nitosol and Vertisol in middle elevations in Ethiopia

Abstract

This field study was carried out in the Ethiopian mid-elevations on Vertisol and Nitosol to determine effects of fertilizer use and identify more productive Urochloa grass varieties and cultivars based on farmers' variety evaluation and partial budget analyses. The study evaluated Urochloa brizantha cultivars ‘La Libertad’ and ‘Marandu’, Urochloa hybrid cultivars ‘Mulato I’ (Mulato I) and ‘Mulato II’ (Mulato II) and Urochloa mutica species. Data on farmers' variety selection were gathered at 45 and 90 days after planting. Pair wise preference ranking was used to record farmers' variety preferences and partial budgeting was used for economic analysis. Farmers selected Urochloa grass varieties or cultivars based on a variety of factors, including plant height, number of tillers, leafiness and smoothness. Mulato II, U. mutica and Mulato I were chosen in first, second and third rank, respectively, based on evaluation using farmers' criteria. U. mutica and Mulato II showed the highest gross benefit and benefit-cost ratio when fertilizer was applied at both sites. U. mutica produced the highest dry matter yield at both sites. U. mutica and Mulato II were selected as having superior production to meet requirements for fodder quantity in the research areas.