Influence of Nutrient Sources on Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max L.)

The investigation was carried out at experimental cum demonstration fieldShri Vaishnav Institute of Agriculture, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore during rabi 2023. The soil of experimental field was medium black clay in texture. It was low in available nitrogen (210.65 kg ha--1), medium in phosphorus (15.22 kg ha-1) and high in potassium (450.27 kg ha-1). The soil organic carbon content, pH, and EC was 0.50 %, 7.30 %, and 0.75 dSm-1, respectively. The field experiment was carried out in randomized block design with eight treatments consisted of T1: absolute control, T2: 100 % RDF, T3: 100 % RDN through FYM, T4: 100 % RDN through vermicompost, T5: 50 % RDF + 50 % RDN through FYM, T6: 50 % RDF + 50 % RDN through vermicompost, T7: 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through FYM, and T8: 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost, and each experimental unit was replicated thrice having the gross plot size of 3.60 x 4.50 m2 and net plot 2.70 x 4.30 m2. Application of 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost recorded significantly maximum growth characters viz., plant height (42.33 cm), number of branches plant-1 (9.90), number of leaves (23.33) plant-1 at 60 DAS, number of root nodules plant-1 (47.27) at 60 DAS , dry matter accumulation plant-1 ( 22.78 g) at harvest, and leaf area plant-1 (13.17 dm2) as compare to all other treatments and was at par with treatment RDF. In a similar vein, noticeably higher yield contributing character such as number of pods (29.33) plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (21.33 g), and seed yield plant-1 (10.83 g), was recorded in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost than rest of the treatments and was on par with treatment RDF. Significantly higher grain yield (15.30 q ha-1), straw yield (23.69 q ha-1) and biological yield (38.99 q ha-1) of soybean was recorded in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost, over rest of the treatments and was on par with treatment RDF. The higher protein content (43.40 %), oil yield (314.03 kg ha-1) and protein yield (665.22 kg ha-1) was found in treatment 75 % RDF + 25 % RDN through vermicompost than any other treatment.