Evaluation of grains and haulms production of soybean varieties in production areas with high livestock potentiality in Benin

Soybean is an important source of plant protein for animal and human feeding. The objective of the study was to determine the grain and haulm production aptitudes of soybean varieties TGX 1910-10F, TGX 1910-14F, TGX 1448-2D, TGX1830-20E and JENGUMA in the Agricultural Development Poles (PDA) with high livestock potentiality. An experimental design of six elementary plots of 400 m2, each occupied by a soybean variety, was installed at 36 growers equally distributed in PDA 2, 3 and 4. Data on production were collected and an analysis of variance was performed in R software with the factor variety. Soybean grain yields of TGX1910-14F, TGX1910-10 F, TGX1448-2D, TGX1830-20E and JENGUMA did not vary between PDA. TGX1830-20E and JENGUMA had similar haulm production in PDA 2 and 4 and higher than PDA 3. In all three PDA, grain yields of TGX1910-14F were significantly higher than those of TGX1830-20E, JENGUMA and peasant varieties (p˂0.001) which were similar while TGX1910-10F and TGX1448-2D had intermediate yields. For haulm, JENGUMA yield was higher (p˂0.001) than the five other varieties which had similar yields. Within the three PDA, TGX1910-14F is better for grain production, followed by TGX1910-10F and TGX1448-2D, while JENGUMA is better for haulm production. These results offer opportunities for choosing soybean varieties based on the desired livestock product before studies on the contribution of the varieties to animal feeding would be carried out.