ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp: (157-162), Month: January - March 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
Evaluation of Varying Row Spacing as it Affect the Growth and Yield Parameters of Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) at Bali, Taraba State 1
Talaka, A., 2D. F. Cherry, 3J. P. Tukura
Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Technology, Taraba State.
Abstract: Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bali, Taraba State in 2018 cropping season with the view to find out the influence of spacing on the growth and yield parameters of soybean. The experiment was carried out with four treatments (35 x 20 cm, 40 x 25 cm, 45 x 30 cm and 50 x 35 cm) replicated four times. Result obtained showed that spacing have influence on the growth and yield parameters of soybean. The results showed that wider spacing or low plant population densities (45 x 30 cm and 50 x 35 cm) encourages the growth and yield parameters of soybean in Bali. This was because the plant have enough space to utilize growth resources very well leading to good growth and finally the yield. All the parameters measured performed better at spacing of 50 x 35 cm followed by 45 x 30 cm. Therefore, considering the spacing that perform better (50 x 35 cm) in this research, farmers should adopt wider spacing with appropriate weed control for good growth and yield parameters of soybean in Bali, Taraba State and its environs. Keywords: Growth, Evaluation, Parameters, Row spacing, Soybean.
1. INTRODUCTION Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), belongs to the family leguminoseae. It is believed to have originated in Eastern Asia, probably in North and Central China but now have spread in many parts of the world including Nigeria (F. A. O., 1988 and F. A. O., 2001). It is herbaceous annual legume, usually erect, bushy and rather leafy which originated in China. The crop has a relatively short growth duration due to its sensitivity to short day length in the tropics (Norman et al., 1995). Soybeans is widely distributed in most parts of the world, the crop has a lot of potential in Africa (Steve and Jonathan, 2001). It is frost sensitive, thrive best on sandy or clay loams and alluvial soils of good fertility and the optimum soil PH for soybean cultivation ranges from 6.0-6.5 (Adetiloye et al., 2000). Soybeans is primarily an industrial crop cultivated for oil and protein. Despite the relatively low oil content of the seed, it is still the largest source of edible oil and account for roughly 50% of the total oil seeds production of the world (F. A. O., 1988). It is generally known that the seed of soybean contains the highest and richest protein among oil cultivated legumes (F. A. O., 1989). Worldwide interest and attention in soybean is mainly due to its high nutritional value and seed protein content (Tiamigu and Idowu, 2001). Soybean has a composition of protein content of over 40%, edible vegetable oil content of 20.5%, carbohydrates content of about 30.5%, a total sugar content of about 10% and an ash content of about 5% (IITA, 1993). Apart from it primarily use as source of oil, some soybeans products enhanced nutritional qualities have been developed and are available in the market. These incudes soy milk (100 % soybeans), soy oil (100 % soybeans), biscuits (100 % soybeans) and cassoy (30 % soybeans) (Di et al., 1996). Weed interference have identified as the major factor responsible for low seed yield of crops (Adeyemo et al., 1992). The constraints imposed by weeds to crops has been well documented (Jain et al., 1985). The traditional methods of weeds control, namely: hoe weeding is the commonest method of weed control by farmers in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria.
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