Influence of Plant Spacing and Time of Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Grain Yield of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril)

Abstract

Time of fertilizer application and proper spacing increases yields, nutrient use efficiency, reduces nutrient losses and prevents damage to the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum plant spacing and time of fertilizer application for growth and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril) using a 3 x 5 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and several parameters measured. Results obtained show that plant height increased significantly with earliness to times of fertilizer application up to 6 WAP and decreased at 8 WAP and this trend was observed to be similar for the number of leaves, branches and leaf size. Total dry matter and grain yield increased at the earliest time of fertilizer application from planting to 4 WAP, a decrease in plant spacing from 20 cm x 50 cm to 10 cm x 50 cm increased the grain yield (18.45% and 28.08%) and total dry matter (15.30% and 23.89%) in both cropping seasons. To maximize grain yield of soya bean, farmers in this locality should adopt narrower spacing of either S₁ (10cm x 50cm) or S₂ (15cm x 50cm) and early application of fertilizer at T ₀ (at planting) to T ₂ (4 WAP).