Performance Evaluation and Participatory Variety Selection of Onion, Allium cepa L. Varieties Under Irrigated Condition of Middle Awash, Afar Region

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a major vegetable crop in Ethiopia; however, its productivity in the irrigated systems of the Middle Awash area remains below potential due to limited availability of adaptable, high-yielding varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic and yield performance of selected onion varieties under irrigation and to identify farmer-preferred cultivars through participatory variety selection (PVS). Trials were conducted during the 2022 and 2024 seasons in the Amibara and Gewane districts using a mother–baby trial design. Mother trials were laid out on-station in a randomized complete block design with three replications, while baby trials were implemented on-farm with active farmer participation. Data on phenological, growth, physiological, biomass, and yield traits were collected, and farmers’ evaluations were conducted using trait-based pairwise ranking and scoring. Analysis of variance (SAS 9.2) revealed highly significant (p < 0.01) differences among varieties for most traits except bulb dry matter. Nafid emerged as the best-performing variety, characterized by early maturity (98 days), large bulbs, the highest marketable yield (41.99 t ha⁻¹), superior biomass, and the highest harvest index (80.87%). Nafis showed strong vigor and good bulb weight but produced more unmarketable bulbs, whereas Adama Red combined good bulb size and disease tolerance with moderate yield. Bombe Red and Nasic were late-maturing and less productive. Farmers’ rankings closely aligned with experimental results, consistently favoring Nafid, followed by Adama Red and Nafis. Overall, Nafid was identified as the most promising and farmer-preferred variety for scaling in irrigated onion production the Middle Awash area.