Impact of sowing dates and plant densities on productivity and nutrient uptake of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill).

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season, 2014 to study the influence of different sowing dates and plant densities on productivity of soybean. It was comprised of nine treatments with three sowing dates (June 28, July 14 and July 29) as main plot treatments and three row spacings (30 cm x 10 cm, 45 cm x 10 cm and 60 cm x10 cm) as sub plot treatments and replicated thrice. Plant height, drymatter production, leaf area index (LAI), days to 50 per cent flowering, numbers of pods plant-1 (44.7), number of seeds per pod-1(2.2), seed yield (1487 kg ha-1), haulm yield (2496kg ha-1), harvest index (39.1%), test weight (9.9 g) and uptake of nutrients increased with early sowing on June 28 than delayed sowing on July 14 and July 29. July 14 sown crop was on par to June 28 sown crop. Productivity of soybean was inconsistent with different row spacings. The highest plant height, drymatter production, leaf area index (LAI), seed yield (1396 kg ha-1), haulm yield (2386kg ha-1), harvest index (39.2%) and uptake of nutrients were recorded at spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm. More number of days to 50 per cent flowering, highest numbers of pods plant-1 (48.1), number of seeds per pod-1 (2.1) and test weight (9.9 g) were recorded at a spacing of 60 X 10 cm.