Local sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) on-farm genetic diversity status and possible determinants from Wollo lowland areas, northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Various agricultural crops are the world's sources of food, fodder, and energy. However, conservation management and diversification constraints remain a challenge. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the status of local agricultural sorghum genetic diversity and potential determinants of the Wollo lowlands in northeastern Ethiopia. The greatest extent of local sorghum abundance was demonstrated in the study areas with the highest value being 4.25 D_Mg and 2.89 D_Mn in Werebabo district. However, 2.97 D_Mg and 2.04 D_Mn were recorded as the relatively lowest indices in Tehuledere province. In fact, the extent and type of diversity, measured by the number of varieties per farm, varied from region to region. Farmer perceived constraints such as late maturity, blending fluency, distance to nearest market (km), small land ownership, end-use quality, and plume size attributed to these deviations. The priority of the constraints was first determined by ranking the constraints based on the answers received from the respondents and then calculating the rank-based quotient. Several categorical variables of these constraints also showed a significant association with the status of local farm sorghum genetic diversity at p < 0.05 and p < 0.001. In general, the status of genetic diversity of local sorghum farms was low in all the provinces studied. Therefore, the seed exchange network between local farmers should be encouraged to use and conserve diversity on a daily basis. Community seed banks should also be established to enhance the conservation of beneficial local sorghum germplasm and maximize locally adapted sorghum landrace profiles.