Augmentation of growth and seed yield of kharif soybean (Glycine max L.) with micronutrients

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2024 at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Pune (Maharashtra) to study the effect of Phule Micronutrient Gr II on growth and yield of soybean (Glycine max L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design having ten treatments with three replications. The treatments comprised T1 - RDF, T2 - GRDF, T3 - GRDF + Spraying of Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T4 - GRDF + Spraying of Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 2% at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T5 - GRDF + Drenching of Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T6 - GRDF + Drenching of Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1.5% at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T7 - GRDF + Soil application of Micronutrient Gr I @ 10 kg ha-1 at the time of Sowing, T8 - GRDF + Soil application of Micronutrient Gr I @ 20 kg ha-1 at the time of Sowing, T9 - GRDF + Micronutrient Gr I @ 10 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing + Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 45 DAS, T10 - GRDF + Micronutrient Gr I @ 20 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing + Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 45 DAS. The soil of experimental site was clay loam in texture. The findings of present investigation revealed that all growth contributing parameters viz., plant height (77.23 cm), number of branches plant-1 (6.70), number of functional leaves plant-1 (23.10), leaf area plant-1 (27.56 dm2), number of root nodules plant-1 (46.00), fresh weight of root nodules plant-1 (0.70 g), dry matter plant-1 (52.44 g), yield contributing characters viz., number of pods plant-1 (83.27), number of seeds pod-1 (2.60), number seeds plant-1 (222.0), seed weight plant-1 (38.03 g), 100 seed weight (21.72 g) and seed yield (33.43 q ha-1) and stover yield (41.73 q ha-1) and quality parameters like protein content (39.05%) and oil content (19.86%) were significantly higher recorded with application of GRDF + Micronutrient Gr I @ 20 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing + Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (T10). The treatment GRDF + Micronutrient Gr I @ 20 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing + Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (T10) was found at par with GRDF + Micronutrient Gr I @ 10 kg ha-1 at the time of sowing + Phule Micronutrient Gr II @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 45 DAS (T9) and GRDF + Soil application of Micronutrient Gr I @ 20 kg ha-1 at the time of Sowing (T8) in all growth parameters, yield contributing characters and seed and stover yield.