Abstract

Scarcity of forage production is the major limiting factor for increasing livestock production in East Hararghe. Vetches are important and potential legume forage crops. Thus, the experiment was conducted to evaluate the forage potential as well as other agronomic characters of four varieties of vetch (ICARDA, Gebisa, Lalisa and Lana) belongs to three species Vicia dasycarpa (Lana), Vicia villosa (Lalisa) and Vicia sativa (Gebisa and ICARDA). The treatments were laid out in randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The study showed that there was difference among the vetch species/varieties for days to flowering, dry matter and seed yields at both agro-ecologies. Accordingly, the highest dry matter was obtained by Lalisa and the lowest yield was recorded by ICARDA in midland while the highest DMY was obtained by Lana and the lowest yield was recorded by ICARDA in lowland. Lana and Lalisa varieties had recorded the highest seed yields than the other varieties and the longest plant height was recorded by Lana and Lalisa, respectively. The crude protein and NDF content were significantly different among vetch varieties. However, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and dry organic matter digestibility (DOMD) were not significantly different among vetch varieties. The nutritional quality value of the whole vetch varieties evaluated was in the range of high quality feed in all parameters. The overall yield from the midland exceeded that of the lowland. The seed yield at lowland is particularly low. However, a promising forage yields has been found at both agro ecologies. The results of the current study identified that Lalisa and Lana had higher dry matter and nutritional quality yielder at midland and lowland of East Hararghe Zone respectively. Therefore, the selected variety should be demonstrated and multiplied for wider use.

Keywords: Days to flowering, Plant height, Dry matter yield, Seed yields, Varieties, Vetch, Nutritional quality