Enhancing Soybean Productivity through Spatial Arrangement and Nutrient Management

Abstract

A field experiment conducted at the Research Farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, during the Kharif season of 2019 investigated the impact of spatial arrangement and nutrient application on soybean productivity. The study employed a factorial randomized block design with three replications, evaluating four crop geometry (30 x10 cm, 45 x5 cm, 45 x 10 cm and 45 x 15 cm) configurations and three fertilizer levels 100 % RDF, 120 % RDF, and 140 % RDF. The investigation revealed significant effects of crop geometry and nutrient levels on soybean growth and yield parameters, including:, Plant height (cm), Plant dry weight (g plant-1), number of pods per plant, Number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight (g), seed yield (q ha-1), straw yield (q ha-1) and harvest index (%).Plant height, number of pods per plant, plant dry weight, total and effective number of root nodules, dry weight of root nodules, maximum harvest index, number of seeds per pod with maximum seed yield (21.19 q ha-1), and straw yield (26.30 q ha-1) were all highest among crop geometry treatments for crop geometry P2 (45 x 5 cm). Crop geometry P3 (45 x 10 cm) recorded the highest test weight, while crop geometry P4 (45 x 15 cm) had the lowest seed yield (17.84 q ha-1).Out of all the nutrient level treatments, F3-140% RDF (NPK) had the highest plant height, plant dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight (8.59 g), seed yield (20.02 q ha-1), straw yield (25.45 q ha-1), and harvest index (44.29%). This treatment was found to be significantly better than the others.  The treatment F2-120 percent RDF had the highest nodule count per plant (25.09), nodule dry weight (33.79 g plant-1), and nodule effective dry weight (28.80 g plant-1).  Thus, crop shape P2-45 x 15 cm with fertility level F2-120 % RDF was determined to be appropriate for the best soybean production.