Effect of planting density and improved seeding machinery on yield and economics of soybean (Glycine ma.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 1997 98 to 2000 2001 in farmers fields at Bhopal on clayey loam medium deep Vertisols, to study the effect of planting densities and improved seeding machines on growth, yield and economics in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The use of improved seeding machines such as seed cum fertilizer drill and strip till seed cum fertilizer drill reduced the cost of op eration by Rs 935 and Rs 1,578tha and increased the net income by Rs 2,589 and Rs 3,703/ha, respectively, over the local seed drills used by the farmers. The planting density of 888,000 plantstachieved by the farmers through sowing at 22.5 cm by use of local seed dr ll mixing seed and fertilizer together increased the plant height and total dry matter disproportionally, thereby increasing the incidence of pests (32%) and decreasing the branching, filled pods, test weight of seeds and seed yisld. Planting density of 440,000tha increased the seed yield by 61.6% and the net returns by Rs 6,669tha over farmers practice. The planting densities at 666,000tha and 533,000tha produced the intermediate effects.