Available online at www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com Pelagia Research Library Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2021, 11 (1):30-32 ISSN : 2249-7412 CODEN (USA): AJPSKY Pelagia Research Library 30 Adaptation of Improved Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties for Seed Yield in Kafa and Benchmaji Zones of South Western Ethiopia Demeke Lea, Tesfaye Belay* Bonga Agricultural Research Center, Bonga, Ethiopia Introduction Linseed (Linum usitatisimum L) It is one of the most important oil crops of Ethiopia and it is considered as the least expensive source of oil for the farmers in many highlands of the country. Linseed oil an excellent drying oil used in manufacturing paints, varnishes, soaps, printing inks, oil cloth and linoleum tiles [1]. It is widely grown in areas having an altitude range of 1,800-2,600 meter above sea level with annual rainfall ranging from 750-1,000 mm in Ethiopia. Linseed requires cool temperatures during its growing period to produce good yields. The mean temperature ranges from 10 to 30ºC although the crop grows best within 21 and 22ºC [2,3]. Among oil seed crops linseed covers 0.62% (about 79, 044.51 hectares) of production area with estimated production 6.68% (about 846, 493.53 ha) of oil crop production. In Ethiopia, it is the fourth important oilseed next to sesame, Neug and groundnut both in terms of acreage and total production [4,5]. Even in southern Ethiopia particularly Kafa and Bench Maji zone have suitable agro ecologies for production of linseed, the production is very low in the areas because poor extension service and lack of access to improved varieties is the major problem that hampers production of this crop in the study area. The present study was designed to identify the adaptability of improved linseed varieties that gives best yield under agro ecology of the study area. Materials and Methods Experimental sites description Field experiment was conducted from July to December in 2018 main cropping season in two districts, one in Bench Maji zone of Semen Bench and other in Kafa zone of Shesheonde district. Geographical location of experimental site ABSTRACT Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the most important oil crops of Ethiopia and it is considered as the main food crop and the least expensive source of oil for the farmers in many highlands of the country. A study on adaptation of improved linseed varieties were carried out at Kefa and Benchi Maji, Shesheonde and Semenbench respectively with the objective of testing the adaptability of linseed varieties for seed yield. Thirteen improved linseed varieties were used for investigation (Yadano, Chilallo, Kassa-2, Belay 96, Berene, Tolle, Jeldu, Bekelecho, Kul-1, Kumo, Furtu, CI-1525 and CI-1652) and one local check were sown in randomized complete block design with three replications from July to December in 2018 in cropping season. Combined analysis of data from the two locations revealed that there is signifcant difference among varieties for days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, thousand seed weight (gm) and seed yield in kg ha-1. Signifcant effect of location was observed in all parameters except for thousand seed weight. The interaction of Variety X location was signifcant for days to maturity, number of branches per plant and number of capsules per plant. The maximum seed yield was recorded in varieties Furtu (1817.02 kg ha-1), Kumo (1752.91 kg ha-1) and Bekelecho (1607.36 kg ha-1). Lowest yield (736 kg/ha-1) was obtained from local check. Variety Furtu and Kumo showed consistence performance in across testing locations to enhance production. Key words: Linseed; Seed yield; Adaptability