Asfaw Zemede (Professor)Berhanu Senait2018-07-192023-11-092018-07-192023-11-092015-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9305This study was conducted on chickpea growing in farmers’ fields with the help of farmers’ knowledge. The main focus of the field study was the main production areas of Ethiopia that include areas in 32 districts distributed in five regions (Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) and Addis Ababa) during 2014-2015 cropping season. The main objective of this study was to assess the diversity of chickpea landraces and to know the current status in Ethiopia in addition to ethnobotanical value of the crop. The field study was carried out between November 2014- Feburary 2015. The field data were collected by using purposive sampling and simple random observation technique by researcher from farmers’ fields, threshing ground, home gardens, store and market places. Ethnobotanical data collections were semi-structured interview, field observation, guided field walk and market survey. Descriptive statistics informant consensus and simple preference ranking were employed to analysis data’s. The findings are presented in the form of charts, tables, graphs and words. A total of 41chickpea landrace seed samples and 27 voucher specimens were collected, then dried and stored in National Herbarium (ETH) of Addis Ababa University. Chickpea phenotypic diversity was recorded on different flower and seed colors, anthocyanin content in the leaf and stem, average number of pods per plant, number of primary branches per plant and number of leaflets per leaf. The most frequently reported food recipes were SHIRO WET, KIK WET next to NIFRO and KOLO, besides agroecological and market value of the crop. The observed variation might have resulted from environmental factors including precipitation, temperature, soil characteristics, photoperiod and genetic variation as influenced by the diversity in socio-cultural factors of the areas studied. Therefore, germplasm conservation, education, resources and further research needed in order to maintain the landrace diversity of chickpea. Key words: Chickpea landraces, Ethiopia, diversity, farmers’ knowledge, cultural practicesenChickpea landracesEthiopiaDiversityFarmers’ knowledgeCultural practicesThesis