Effect of nutrient management options on productivity and economics of soybean (Glycine max) varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2015 on a silty clay loam soil at Rahuri, Maharashtra, to study the effect of varying nutrient management on productivity and economics of different variet- ies of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with 15 treatment combinations of 3 varieties KDS 344, JS 9305 and KS 103 and 5 nutrient-management levels, viz. general recommended dose of fertilizer (GRDF)50, 75, 0-N, P O , K O kg/ha + 5.0 tonnes FYM/ha (N ); 75% 2 5 2 1 GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of grade II at 30 and 45 days after sowing (N ); 100% GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of 2 grade II at 30 and 45 DAS (N ); 125% GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of grade II at 30 and 45 DAS (N ); and 50, 75, 30 3 4 N, P O , K O kg/ha + 5 tonnes FYM/ha (N ). The variety KDS 344 and application of nutrient dose of 125% GRDF 2 5 2 5 + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded higher growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height (cm), branches/plant, pods/plant and weight of seeds/plant (g) than KS 103 and JS 9305. Similarly, the treatment combination of KDS 344 and application of nutrient dose of 125% GRDF + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded significantly higher grain yield (8.76 and 31.65%) than the variety KDS 344 with GRDF and 50, 75, 30 N, P O , K O kg/ha + 5.0 tonnes FYM/ha. The variety KDS 344 gave the highest net returns ( 87.3 103/ha) 2 5 2 and benefit: cost ratio (3.17). Similarly, application of nutrient levels 75% GRDF + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded the highest net returns ( 82.7 103/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.24). Thus, the maximum productivity and profitability of soybean can be achieved from variety KDS 344 fertilized with 75% GRDF (37.5, 56.25, 0 N, P O , K O kg/ha + 3.75 tonnes FYM/ha) + 0.5 % Grade II foliar spray of micronutrient at 30 and 45 2 5 2 DAS.