Abstract

Three districts (Negele Arsi, Shashemene, and Wondo) in the West Arsi zone of Oromia regional state and one district (Wondogenet) in the Sidama regional state of Ethiopia were used to conduct on farm evaluation and preextension demonstration of recently released Desho grass varieties to evaluate the varieties on-farm agronomic and yield performance as well as to demonstrate, popularize, and create awareness of the benefits of the tested grass varieties. Accordingly, Areka and Kulumsa varieties gave a higher amount (57.33 and 52.33 tons ha-1) of fresh biomass yield and (13.49 and 12.56 tons ha-1) of dry matter yield, while Kindu kosha produced (49.46 tons ha-1) and (11.66 tons ha-1) fresh biomass yield and dry matter yield at the study site, respectively. Based on the performance of the varieties and visiting farmers’ feedback, further large-scale scaling of the two varieties (Areka and Kulumsa) recommended to be conducted in the study area and areas with similar agro-ecologies. Thus, even if all varieties had an acceptable forage production potential, Areka and Kulumsa varieties had the potential to solve the constraint of feed shortage in the study area and in areas with similar agro-ecologies.