Response of rainfed soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) to various land configurations, planting geometry and nutrient levels

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with fifteen treatment combinations of five land configurations, planting geometry and nutrient levels in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. The results indicated that soybean growth parameters and yield attributes were significantly higher in ridge and furrow sowing at 45 cm x 10 cm spacing. Seed and haulm yields were also significantly higher with ridge and furrow sowing at 45 cm x 10 cm followed by ridge and furrow sowing at 60 cm x 10 cm spacing treatment. Monetary returns like gross and net returns were also recorded higher values with ridge and furrow sowing compared with flat bed sowing. Among nutrient levels, 150% RDF (90-90-60 NPK kg ha-1) treatment recorded higher seed, haulm yield and monetary returns. However, ridge and furrow sowing recorded higher values of soil moisture content (%) at 0-30 cm soil depth and higher soil moisture use efficiency.