Field experiment was conducted to assess the extent of genetic variability and heritability in soybean genotypes for yield and its related traits. A total of thirty six soybean genotypes were evaluated using simple lattice design at Fadis eastern Ethiopia during 2018 cropping season. Data were recorded for major quantitative traits and analyzed using appropriate statistical software. Analysis of variance revealed that the genotypes were highly significant for all the traits studied, indicating the existence of considerable magnitude of variability. High broad sense heritability estimate coupled with relatively high genetic advance as percentage of mean were computed for pods/plant, plant height, grain yield and primary branches/plant. High values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), broad sense heritability (H2), and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) were estimated for plant height, primary branches per plant, pod per plant, seeds per pod, and grain yield indicating the ease of direct selection for the improvement of these traits. Hence, selection for these traits is likely to be effective as high heritability values were associated with high genetic advance as percent of means in the improvement of the performance of the soybean genotypes.

Keywords: Genetic variation, Genetic advance, Heritability and Selection intensity