Large-plot based performance evaluation of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. millsp.) varieties for grain yield and agronomic traits under irrigation condition in Mandura district, North-West, Ethiopia

The experiment was conducted during the offseason at Mandura district, North-West, Ethiopia under irrigation condition with the objective, to test and evaluate the adaptability and performance of seven introduced ESA pigeonpea varieties for grain yield and other agronomic traits with standard check during 2017/2018 cropping season. The agronomic traits evaluated and tested were stand count at initial, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, and stand count at harvest, seeds per pod, seeds per plant, wilt score, hundred seed weight and usable grain yield per hectare. The evaluated materials showed three maturity class i.e. early, medium, and long durations. Among the tested materials, ICEAP-00557 scored the highest grain yield (2349kg/ha), followed by ICEAP-00576-1 (1737kg/ha), however, the standard check ICEAP-87091 score was comparatively inferior (1390kg/ha). At times there was great variability in the biomass of the varieties which deserves serious attention for the producers. Thus, it was suggested the existence of sufficient variability for key economic yield that gives an option for promoting for high socio-economic performance through adaptation and commercialization.