Seed yield and yield components of vetch species and their accessions under nitosol and vertisol conditions in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Vetch species and their accessions were evaluated for seed yield and yield components at Holetta (nitosol) and Ginchi (vertisol) conditions in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications. The seed yield and its related performance were highly influenced by environment and hence comparatively higher seed yield and its related performance were recorded at Ginchi than Holetta. The highest grain filling period (72.4) and number of pods per plant (85.3) and the lowest pod length per plant (2.7 cm) was recorded for Vicia villosa at Holetta. The highest grain sink filling rate (16.4 kg ha-1 day-1) and seed yield (0.8 t ha-1) and the lowest grain filling period (46.9) was recorded for Vicia sativa at Holetta. Vicia narbonensis had the highest pod length per plant (5.4 cm) and thousand seed weight (222.8 g) and the lowest grain sink filling rate (7.2 kg ha-1 day-1), number of pods per plant (7.6) and seed yield (0.4 t ha-1) at Holetta. The lowest thousand seed weight (44.1 g) was recorded for Vicia dasycarpa at Holetta. On the other hand, the highest number of pods per plant (159.1) and the lowest grain sink filling rate (26.0 kg ha-1 day-1) was recorded for Vicia dasycarpa at Ginchi. The lowest pod length per plant (2.8 cm) and thousand seed weight (42.5 g) was recorded for Vicia villosa at Ginchi. The highest grain filling period (79.8) and the lowest seed yield (2.0 t ha-1) was recorded for Vicia sativa and Vicia atropurpurea at Ginchi respectively. Vicia narbonensis had the highest grain sink filling rate (41.0 kg ha-1 day-1),  pod length per plant (5.5 cm), seed yield (2.9 t ha-1) and thousand seed weight (242.2 g) and the lowest grain filling period (70.0) and number of pods per plant (30.6) at Ginchi. The seed yield was positively correlated with grain sink filling rate, pod length per plant, number of seeds per pod and thousand seed weight. Generally, vetch species and their accessions varied in seed yield and yield components potential under nitosol and vertisol conditions in the central highlands of Ethiopia.