GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF SOYA BEAN (Glycine max L.) TO VARYING SPACING IN JALINGO, TARABA STATE

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effects of plant spacing on the growth and yield of soybeans (Glycine max L.), variety TGX 448-2E during 2016 cropping season at the Research farm of the Taraba State University, Jalingo. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having nine treatments replicated three times. Treatments included 5x30cm (T1), 5x45cm (T2), 5x60cm (T3), 10x30cm (T4), 10x45cm (T5), 10x60cm (T6), 15x30cm (T7), 15x45cm (T8) and 15x60cm (T9). Parameters monitored were plant height, number of leaves plant-1, number of days to 50% flowering, number of flowers plant-1, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds per plant-1 and total grain yield plot-1. Results of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of data collected revealed that plant height varied significantly (p˂0.05) with tallest plants (41.5cm) obtained with 5x30cm spacing and lowest with 10x45cm spacing. Number of leaves plant-1 was highest (19.4) with 15x60cm and lowest with 5x30cm spacings accordingly. Number of seeds pod-1 was similar in all inductive spacings. Number of seeds plant-1 varied significantly (p˂0.05) between the treatments with highest number of seeds obtained from the 15x30cm spacing. Total seed weight plot-1 was significantly (p˂0.05) highest with 5x45cm and 15x60cm spacings. These results showed that the plant spacings 5x45cm and 15x60cm which gave the highest yield may be recommended for the location for best yields