Character association and path coefficient analysis between some growth characters and grain yield in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril.)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in 2014 rainy season at the Agricultural Research Station Farm, Minjibir (12⁰11ˈN and 8⁰25ˈE), and Bayero University, Kano (11⁰58ˈN and 8⁰25ˈE), Teaching and Research Farm. This work was aimed at studying the nature and magnitude of the associations of some growth characters and grain yield in Soybean, a basis of selection for further improvement. Treatments consisted of two levels of rhizobium inoculation, three (0, 10, and 20 kgN/ha) levels of nitrogen and three (0, 30, and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) levels of phosphorus. These were laid out in split-split plot design with three replications. Results of the study showed that number of branches was positively (p< 0.01) correlated to grain yield. The path analysis also revealed that number of branches has the greatest direct effect on the grain yield. The greatest combined contributions of growth characters to grain yield were recorded from number of leaves and number of branches. Based on these findings, attention can be given towards improvement of number of branches per plant and number of leaves as criteria for selection of Soybean for increased grain yield.

Keywords: Correlation, Grain yield, Growth, Path coefficient analysis, Soybean