ADAPTABILITY STUDY OF OAT (Avena sativa) GENOTYPES FOR THEIR AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND NUTRITIVE VALUE IN THE MIDLAND OF EAST GUJI ZONE, ADOLA, SOUTHERN OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

A study was conducted to identify adaptable, high biomass and dry matter and grain yielder of Oat variety/accessions under Bore Agricultural research centre Adola sub-site. The three Oat variety/accessions adaptation tested included Jasari, 5453 and 6710 accessions. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was employed. The analyzed result revealed that days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, logging and grain yield was significantly different between treatments at (P<0.05). The early flowered variety was Jasari (62.8 days) and late flowered variety was 5453 (72.8 days). Early matured variety was Jasari (10.8 days) and late matured variety was 5453 (114 days). Highest logging was recorded from 5453 accessions (42.4%) and the lowest was Jasari variety (24.1%). Highest grain yield was obtained from 6710 accessions (49.3 qt/ha) and the lowest grain yield was obtained from Jasari variety (33.3 qt/ha). Plant height and fresh biomass yield were not significantly different between treatments at (P>0.05), But numerically had high yielder value was recorded from the treatments. Highest plant height was measured from 5453 accessions (163 cm). Shortest plant height was obtained from Jasari variety (159 cm), whiles the highest biomass yield of 2.2 t/ha from a variety of 5453 followed by 2 t/ha 6710 accessions. Lowest biomass yield of 1.8 t/ha from Jasari variety. Concerning chemical composition 5453 accession was highest in acid detergent fibre (NDF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and DM and less in acid detergent lignin (ADL). 6710 accession was highest in acid detergent lignin (ADL) and total ash (TASH) and less in crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber (NDF) and organic matter (OM) content were as, Jasari variety had the highest in crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) and less in acid detergent fibre (NDF) and total ash (TASH) content than the rest accessions. The result implies that 5453 accessions were well adapted and being productive regarding the plant height, biomass yield and seed yield of oat which is hopeful to fill the gap of low quality and quantity ruminant feed supply of the community. Thus it could be possible to conclude that the oat varieties especially 5453 accessions used as a protein supplement for midland of Guji, which were suffering from poor quality roughage and low protein and digestible crop residues which were the major livestock feed sources, particularly in Guji. Based on its adaptability, plant height, biomass yield and seed yield, good CP and OM 5453 accessions are recommended for further promotion in the midland of East Guji zone.