Effects of planting dates on dry matter production and ecological characteristics of soybeans (Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) in southern region of Korea

The object of this study was to investigate the differences in dry matter production, physiological characteristic and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as affected by planting dates in southern region of Korea. This experiment was conducted using four planting dates and four varieties over 3 years (1982-1984). The different responses of soybean varieties to different temperature and daylength, days from planting to flowering were ranged from 43 to 55 days when planted on May 10 long daylength and low temperature condition. Flowering duration was ranged from 12 to 27 days and 9 to 13 days for the plantings made on May 10 and July 9, respectively. Therefore, it was the shortest under the short daylength and high tempera-ture condition. It also appeared that the later planting caused the lower dry matter weight and leaf area index which resulted in lower grain yield. But grain yield was not directly correlated with the unbalance of Xink/Source Ratio and the lodging from excessive vegatative growth. The grain yield was the highest in May 30 and the lowest in July 9 planting: it was ranged from 2.26 to 2.55 t/ha in the former and 0.85 to 1.20 t/ha in the latter, respectively. The increase in yield was depended on the increase in the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod and the seed weight. The distribution ratio of dry matter to leaves was the hightest at the sixth trifoliolate leaf stage and gradually declined thereafter in all planting dates, and it also appeared that the later planting, the lower the ratio of dry matter to leaves.