Evaluation of the influence of plant population on yield and agro-morphological traits in soybean cultivars (Glycine max L. Merrill)

Abstract

In order to investigate the effects of different densities on yield and yield components in soybean, an experiment was conducted in a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications at research farm, Islamic Azad University of Kermanshah at 2007-2008. Cultivars factor were placed in the blocks at 3 levels including M7, M9 , and Gorgan3 and density factors at 3 levels including plant were placed on 3,5,7cm intra rows spacing(53,32 and 23 plant.m -2 ) in the blocks. The end of growth stage and harvesting time, the grain yield and yield components were determined. The results showed that density of 23 and 53 plant.m -2 had highest and lowest numbers of branches per plant, respectively. The highest number of node per plant and 100 grain weight per (main stem,branches and plant) related to M7 cultivar and highest number of pod per( branches and plant) related to Gorgan3 cultivar.also M7 and Gorgan3 had highest number of grain per plant and number of grain per branches , respectively. A significant correlation coefficient were found between grain yield with plant height(r=0.71**), number of grain per plant(r=0.73**), 100 grain weight(r=0.43**), biological yield (r=0.85**) and harvest index(r=0.34**). Gorgan3 had highest yield than two cultivars, M7 and M9. The highest yield related to density of 23 of plants.m -2 .