Effect of plant spacing and number of seeds dibble-1 on growth, yield and economics of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled, “Optimization of seed rate and spacing of soybean (Glycine max. L. Merrill) during kharif season” was conducted at PG Research Farm, Agronomy Section, RCSM College of Agriculture, Kolhapur (Maharashtra) during kharif 2018. The treatments consisting of four plant spacings viz., 30 x 5 cm2, 30 x 10 cm2, 45 x 5 cm2 and 45 x 10 cm2 and three seed rates viz.,D1 (One seed dibble-1), D2 (Two seeds dibble-1) and D3 (Three seeds dibble-1). The results revealed that the sowing of soybean at 45 x 10 cm2 plant spacing recorded higher mean of growth parameters (except plant height) over plant spacings 30 x 5 cm2 and 30 x 10 cm2, however, on par with plant spacing 45 x 5 cm2. The plant spacing 30 x 5 cm2 produced higher plant height due to competition among plants for space, solar radiation and nutrients. The plant spacing 45 x 5 cm2 produced highest seed yield (26.46 q ha-1) and stover yield (39.20 q ha-1) it was followed by plant spacing 45 x 10 cm2 seed yield (24.83 q ha-1) and stover yield (38.79 q ha-1). Sowing of one seed dibble-1 recorded significantly higher growth parameters (except plant height) over rest of the treatments. Sowing of three seeds dibble-1 recorded higher plant height due to competition among plants for space, solar radiation and nutrients. The various yield attributing characters were higher in sowing of two seeds dibble-1 and it was followed by one seed dibble-1. Sowing of two seeds dibble-1 produced highest seed yield (26.90 q ha-1) and stover yield (40.46 q ha-1) and it was followed by one seed dibble-1 with produced seed yield (25.53 q ha-1) and stover yield (38.70 q ha-1).