Effect of fertilizer levels and plant densities on growth, yield and economics of summer soybean (Glycine max. L. Merrill) for seed production

A field experiment was conducted to access “Effect of fertilizer levels and plant densities on growth and yield of summer soybean (Glycine max. L. Merrill) for seed production” at PG Research Farm, Agronomy Section, R.C.S.M. College of Agriculture, Kolhapur during summer 2017. The treatments consisting of three fertilizer levels (37.5:56.25:33.75 NPK kg ha-1 i.e. 75% of RDF, 50:75:45 NPK kg ha-1 i.e. 100% RDF and 62.5:93.75:56.25 NPK kg ha-1 i.e.125% RDF) and three plant densities [1,48,148 plants ha-1 (45 x 15 cm2), 2,22,222 plants ha-1(45 x 10 cm2) and 4,44,444 plants ha-1(45 x 5 cm2)]. The results revealed that the application of 125% RDF recorded significantly higher growth parameters over rest of the treatments. The various yield attributes and seed yield were highest with application of 125% RDF (27.44 q ha-1) followed by 100% RDF (25.99 q ha-1). Significantly higher mean of growth parameters (except plant height) was recorded in Plant density 1, 48,148 plants ha-1 (45 x 15 cm2) over rest of the plant densities. The plant density 4,44,444 plants ha-1 (45 x 5 cm2) produced highest seed yield (27.94 q ha-1) and it was followed by plant density 2,22,222 plants ha-1 (45 x 10 cm2) (25.64 q ha-1).