Effect of foliar application of water-soluble fertilizers on yield and economics of soybean

A field investigation entitled “Effect of Foliar Application of Water-Soluble Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Soybean” was conducted in kharif season of 2024 at the PGI farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The experiment consists of eight treatments viz T1: Absolute control, T2: RDF (50:75:45 kg ha-1 N:P2O5:K2O), T3: GRDF (50:75:45 kg ha-1 N:P2O5:K2O + 10 t FYM ha-1 ), T4: GRDF + Urea @ 2% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS, T5: GRDF + DAP @ 2% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS, T6: GRDF + 19:19:19 @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS, T7: GRDF + 13:00:45 @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS, T8: GRDF + 12:61:00 @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS.As regards yield attributing characters, number of pods plant-1 (50.76), weight of pods plant-1 (42.46 g), number of grains pod-1 (2.99), weight of grains plant-1 (24.39 g), grain yield (2933 kg ha-1) and stover yield (3898 kg ha-1) of soybean were recorded significantly the highest under treatment T6 (GRDF + 19:19:19 @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS). Significantly the highest gross monetary returns (₹171060 ha-1), net monetary returns (₹ 106691 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.65) was obtained in treatment T6 (GRDF + 19:19:19 @ 1% spray at 30 DAS and 00:52:34 @ 1% spray at 45 DAS). While, T1: Absolute control obtained minimum gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B:C ratio among all the treatments.