Effects of genotype and environment on forage yield, nutritive value and morphology of lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) sweet)

Melkam Aleme; Metekia Tamiru; Ashraf Alkhtib; Getnet Assefa; Aemiro Kehaliew; Taye Tolemariam; Gezahagn Mengistu; Emily Burton; Geert Paul Jules Janssens

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19671

Effects of genotype and environment on forage yield, nutritive value and morphology of lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) sweet)

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 31;9(9):e19671. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19671. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Melkam Aleme¹, Metekia Tamiru², Ashraf Alkhtib³, Getnet Assefa⁴, Aemiro Kehaliew⁵, Taye Tolemariam², Gezahagn Mengistu¹, Emily Burton³, Geert Paul Jules Janssens⁶

Affiliations

¹ Tepi Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 34, Tepi, SNNPR, Ethiopia.
² Jimma University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, PO Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.
³ Nottingham Trent University, School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0QF, UK.
⁴ International Livestock Research Institute, Land O'lakes (LOL), P.O. Box 64101 St. Paul, MN, 55164-0101, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁵ Holetta Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 31, Holetta, Ethiopia.
⁶ Ghent University, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Heidestraat 19, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Abstract

The goal of the study is to determine the effect of genotype and environment on forage yield, forage nutritive value and to determine the relation between morphology and forage yield and nutritive value of lablab. Thirteen genotypes (one local and 12 improved) were replicated 3 times in a randomized complete block trial across three locations in Ethiopian lowlands namely, Bechi, Kite and Tepi. All forage samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) using a combination of conventional nutritional analyses and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. There was a significant (P < 0.001) effect of genotype, location and genotype*location on forage yield of DM, forage yield of CP, forage yield of IVDMD, CP, and IVDMD. The difference between means of minimum and maximum genotypes was 12.9 t/ha of DM, 3.12 t/ha CP, 8.22 t/ha IVDMD, 57 g/kg of CP and 56 g/kg of IVDMD. The correlation between plant morphology and forage yield and nutritive value was weak (r ≤ 0.41) in all locations and the combined data. Both genotype and location should be considered by the farmers when they decide to grow lablab for forage production. Morphological traits of lablab are not suitable to evaluate forage yield and nutritive value. Enhancing the awareness of farmers about the effect genetic-environment interaction effect of forage yield and nutritive value and the relation between morphology and yield and nutritive value would improve the uptake of lablab in mixed the farming system leading to more sustainable agricultural production.

Keywords: Forage; Lablab beans; Location; Mixed farming system; Variety.