Effect of Density of Planting on Yield of Two Soybean Cultivars PDF

Keywords

soybean, plants, density

Abstract

The yield and yield components of two varieties of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], Bossier and Improved Pelican were compared in two experiments in 1987 and in 1988 at a range of planting densities from 10 to 40 plants/m. The experimental design was a split plot randomized block with three replicates; plant density fonned the main plot treatments and the cultivars formed the sub plot. The optimum density of planting for Bossier, a determinate type was 20 plants/m while that of Improved Pelican, an indeterminate type, was 10 plants/m. Improved Pelican which was more susceptible to lodging showed greater yield reductions at higher densities than Bossier which was lodging resistant. Although number of branches per plant generally increased with increasing density, there was no significant density effect on the number of nodes per plant. Number of pods/plant, seeds/pod and seed weight decreased at high densities in 1987 as well as in 1988, indicating a consistent response across years.