Participatory evaluation of lupine genotypes on biomass and grain yield performance and nutritional value in the highland of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate the adaptability, yield performance and nutritional value, and to identify farmers preferred lupine genotypes. Four lupine genotypes were evaluated using participatory approach at Arbegona and Bule districts of Ethiopia on the farmer’s plots. The experimental layout followed a randomised complete block design with four replications. Farmers as well as researchers gave the first rank for accession No. 239042 and accession No. 239047 and least for Sanabor (Accession No. 144) in overall performance. Moreover, according to the results of the current study, accession No. 239004 and 239042 were the best lupine genotypes, which gave the greater grain yield, forage dry matter production and nutritive value than the other accession tested. Based on the laboratory evaluation, sweet lupine forage and seed can be used as homegrown protein source in livestock feeding. Farmers preferred all the tested lupine genotypes for their after assessing its grain yield. Even though Sanabor (Accession No. 144) was inferior in its grain yield, the farmers preferred the Sanabor mainly due to their early maturity, short growth habit, lodging tolerance, despite its high vegetative growth. Thus, the consideration of farmers’ preference for forage crops is crucial for increased adoption of improved forage crops.