Research Paper

Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences

9(2): 344-346, March-April (2018)
ISSN: 0976-1675 https:// www.rjas.org DI: 4803-2312-2017-074

Effect of Varieties and Sowing Time on Growth and Productivity of Soybean

in Southern Zone of Andhra Pradesh
C Ramesh Naidu, G Krishna Reddy, V Sumathi and P Venkatrama Muni Reddy
Department of Agronomy,
S. V. Agricultural College (Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University), Tirupati - 517 502, Andhra Pradesh
e-mail: [email protected]

Received: 23 December 2017; Revised accepted: 10 February 2018

ABSTRACT
Field experiment was conducted at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) during rabi 2015-16 to
study the effect of time of sowing and varieties on the performance of soybean. It was comprised of 16 treatments
th th st
with four sowing dates (16 September (D1), first October (D2), 16 October (D3) and 1 November (D4) and four
varieties (Basar, JS-93-05, Bheem and JS-335) replicated thrice. The present study concludes that Variety JS-335
(V4) recorded the highest seed yield while sowing on second fortnight of September (D 1) created ideal weather for
crop growth and development resulting in higher oil, protein content and seed yields of soybean. The highest pod
-1
yield of 1417 kg ha was recorded with sowings on second fortnight of September.

Key words: Sowing time, Soybean, Varieties, Protein, Seed yield

S oybean (Glycine max L.) is classified more as an oil

seed crop than as a pulse. It contains 40-42% of
proteins and 18-20% of oil. Due to its high nutritional value
reproductive phases (Kantolic and Slafer 2001). Delayed
sowing generally shifts reproductive growth into less
favourable conditions with shorter days and lower radiation
there is an increasing demand of soy food e.g. soymilk, and temperature (Egli and Bruening 2000). Seasonal and
soybean sprouts, soy nuts, several types of tofu, cottage daily variations in weather are the major determinants of
cheese and curd. Despite of its high demand, India crop growth and yield. Further, the different weather
contributes only 3% of world soybean production whereas parameters affect growth and development of crop
the USA alone has about 34 per cent of the world soybean differently. Environmental conditions prevailing over a
production followed by Brazil (30%), Argentina (18%) and particular agro-climatic zone cannot be altered; however,
China (4%). There are many factors limiting soybean sowing time of a crop can be adjusted to take maximum
production at farm. These factors are improper sowing time, advantage of the environmental factors to best suit various
climatic variability, low germination percentage, poor growth stages of crop. The productivity of soybean is
quality seed, irrigation shortage etc. Another possible reason governed by improved genotypes coupled with matching
of low production is the non adoption of new developed production and protection technology. Suitability of a
varieties. The sowing of soybean varieties of high yield variety to a particular agro-climate is most important factor
potential at optimum sowing time is considered as a hopeful in realizing the yield potential which is further influenced by
approach to increase soybean production. Generally, the their response to varying growing environment (Boote et al.
sowing dates varies depending on the climatic condition of 2008). Different sowing time exposes the crop to different
the region and the varieties to be grown. Different varieties set of environmental conditions which gets integrated in the
of soybean are sensitive to change in environmental final crop performance respective to the sowing time.
conditions where the crop is being sown. Sowing date is the Besides, it is important to study the response of suitable
variable with the largest effect on crop yield (Calvino et al. soybean varieties to varying weather parameters to optimize
2003). Environmental conditions associated with late it for increased soybean productivity. Therefore, it was
sowing affect crop features related to the capture of contemplated to have an insight on the effect of different
radiation and portioning of crop resources as soybean is a weather parameters and thereby agro-meteorological indices
dicotyledonous photoperiod sensitive crop (short day) and for the production of soybean crop. The objective of present
faces thermo-sensitivity in nature. These include less study was to evaluate the effect of sowing times and
vegetative growth (Board et al. 1992), shorter stems (Boquet varieties on yield and yield components of soybean in sandy
1990); lower reproductive nodes and shortening of the clay loams of Southern Zone of Andhra Pradesh.

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 Naidu et al. 2018 Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 9(2)

MATERIALS AND METHODS height, leaf area index (LAI), drymatter production, number
The experiment was conducted at S. V. Agricultural of effective root nodules plant-1, number of pods plant-1 and
College, Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) during rabi 2015-16. It number of seeds pod-1 were collected from randomly
was comprised of 16 treatments with four sowing dates (16 th selected five plants per plot at harvest. The plants in the net
September (D1), first October (D2), 16th October (D3) and 1st plot area after removal of the pods from haulms were sun
November (D4) and four varieties (Basar, JS-93-05, Bheem dried thoroughly till constant weight was attained and haulm
and JS-335) replicated thrice. The soil of the experimental yield was recorded and expressed in kg ha-1. From the total
field was sand clay loam, low in nitrogen (213 kg ha-1) and produce of each plot, 100 seeds were counted and weighed
medium in available phosphorus (24.2 kg ha-1) and to express hundred seed weight. The crop was harvested
potassium (254 kg ha-1). The maximum temperature during when the pods were matured; the bundles were sun dried for
September-January was 30.0°C and 31.5°C. Total rainfall few days and then threshed manually. The harvest index was
recorded during crop season was 1147.1 mm. A pre-sowing calculated by dividing grain yield by biological yield.
irrigation was given one day prior to sowing of the seed to
ensure good germination and establishment of the seedlings RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
and subsequently need based irrigations were given to the Sowing time had significant effect on morpho-
crop. The crop was raised using seed rate of 75 kg ha -1 with physiological parameters, yield attributes and yield of
line-to-line spacing of 30 cm. The seed was treated with soybean. However, plant height, nodules number and dry
Dithane M-45@ 3 g kg-1 seed to control seed rot and weight, effective root nodules per plant and number of pods
seedling blight. The nutrient dose @ 30 kg N, 60 kg P 2O5 per plant, number of seeds per plant, hundred seed weight,
and 40 kg K2O per hectare was applied at the time of oil, protein content, seed yield were significantly influenced
sowing. Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits, one at the by sowing time. Crop sown during second fortnight of
time of sowing and another at 30 days after sowing (DAS). September (D1) recorded highest seed yield (1417.3 kg ha -1),
Method of application adopted was basal placement of 5 cm it was at par with first fort night of October (D2). Similar
below the soil and 5cm away from seed rows. Pendimethalin results were also reported by De-Bruin and Pedersen (2008),
@ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 was sprayed as a pre-emergence Billore et al. (2000) where early sowing of soybean the seed
application on the second day after sowing to control the yield. The highest harvest index was recorded with second
weeds. Hand weeding was done twice at 15 and 30 DAS of fortnight of September (D1) followed by other dates of
each sowing date to keep the plots free from weeds. Minor sowing. The highest plant height, LAI, drymatter production
incidence of tobacco cutworm was observed at flowering. was estimated crop sown second fort night of September
Monocrotophos @ 2 ml l-1 and Chlorpyriphos @ 2.5 ml l -1 (D1) followed by other dates of sowing (D2, D3, D4) (Table
was used for effective control of the tobacco cutworm with 1). Higher Protein and oil contents were recorded with
an interval of one week. The data on various phenological second fort night of September (D1) compared to other dates
stages were collected from each plot. The data on plant of sowing (D2, D3, D4).

Table 1 Effect of sowing times and varieties on growth characters of soybean

Drymatter production Number of effective
Treatments Plant height (cm) Leaf area index
(kg ha-1 ) root nodules plant-1
Sowing time
D1: 16th September 38.2 3.50 4798.3 26.2
D2: 1st October 36.1 3.30 4316.0 26.9
D3: 16th October 33.1 3.10 3360.8 25.5
D4: 1st November 32.4 3.00 3003.8 23.2
SEm± 0.3 0.06 85.0 0.8
CD (P=0.05) 1.0 0.18 246.6 2.2
Varieties
V1: Basar 34.9 3.30 4155.3 27.1
V2: JS-93-05 35.1 3.10 3264.8 25.3
V3: Bheem 34.1 3.20 3643.6 22.8
V4: JS-335 36.2 3.50 4415.2 26.6
SEm± 0.3 0.06 85.0 0.8
CD (P=0.05) 1.0 0.18 246.6 2.2

The growth parameters like plant height, nodules (V3), Basar (V1) and JS 93-05 (V2)). The seed Index coupled
number, physiological parameters like LAI, drymatter with nodules number, photosynthesis rate, LAI led to its
production, yield attributes like pods, seed index, straw yield better performance yield wise. Variety JS 335 (V 4) yielded
and harvest index and quality characters like oil and protein significantly higher (1204.9 kg/ha) as compared to Basar
content differed significantly for cultivars (Table 2). Variety (V1) (1,630 kg/ha), indicating its distinct superiority (Table
JS 335 (V4) showed distinct edge over other verities (Bheem 1). Kumar et al. (2005) also reported genotypic differences

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 Varieties and Sowing Time on Growth and Productivity of Soybean
with respect to pods per plant. Genotypes of soybean do per cent for JS 335 (V4) which higher than other varieties
differ in seed yields (Dubey and Billore 1993, Billore et al. Basar (V1), Bheem (V3), JS-93-05 (V2) respectively.
2009). The highest biological yield was recorded in Variety Thus, it can concluded that cultivar JS 335 with crop
JS 335 (V4) which was significantly higher than Basar (V1), sown 2nd fort night September found beneficial for
Bheem (V3), and JS-93-05 (V2). Variety JS 335 (V4) enhancing physiological parameters, yield attributes and
significantly higher oil content (19.08%) over than Basar soybean productivity in sandy clay loams of Southern Zone
(V1), Bheem (V3), and JS-93-05 (V2). Protein content 38.11 of Andhra Pradesh.

Table 2 Effect of sowing times and varieties on yield component, oil, protein content and grain yield, harvest index of soybean
Number of Number of Hundred seed Oil content Protein Haulm yield Harvest Seed yield
Treatments
pods Plant-1 seeds pod-1 weight (g) (%) content (%) (kg ha-1 ) index (%) (kg ha-1 )
Sowing time
D1: 16th September 37.9 3.0 11.2 19.41 38.88 2399.1 30.8 1417.3
D2: 1st October 33.2 2.4 11.3 19.02 38.11 2158.0 29.9 1319.4
D3: 16th October 30.7 2.1 9.8 18.95 36.88 1680.4 26.5 840.6
D4: 1st November 28.5 1.6 9.5 18.53 35.78 1501.9 23.3 787.5
SEm± 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.12 0.11 38.2 0.9 44.2
CD (P=0.05) 2.6 0.2 0.9 0.29 0.24 110.7 0.7 128.3
Varieties
V1: Basar 32.9 2.5 10.3 18.70 37.90 2077.7 28.2 1158.9
V2: JS-93-05 30.0 2.0 9.8 17.69 35.68 1632.4 25.8 942.2
V3: Bheem 32.0 2.1 11.2 18.10 36.62 1821.8 26.8 1058.7
V4: JS-335 35.4 2.7 10.5 19.08 38.11 2207.6 29.7 1204.9
SEm± 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.06 0.11 38.2 0.9 44.2
CD (P=0.05) 2.6 0.2 0.9 0.165 0.21 110.7 2.7 128.3

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