Effect of Sowing Dates on Growth and Yield of Two Soybean(Glycine Max L.) Genotypes ‫‬

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted for one growing season(2009/2010)in the Demonstration Farm of College of Agricultural Studies at Sudan University of Science & Technology at Shambat to investigate the effect of sowing date on two Soybean genotypes (Glycine max L.),G1, 1904- 5E(E)and G2, 1905 -2E(M) on growth, yield and yield components. Lay out of experiment was split block design with four replications, growth parameters were number of leaves, plant height, yield and yield components (50% and 100% flowering, weight of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, number of seeds/plant, shoot dry weight 100 seeds weight, weight of seeds/plant and harvest index). Fourth reading every fifteen days (30, 45, 60, 75 days after sowing) showed significant difference only in first reading (30 days) at first sowing date. The result showed that time of flowering was significantly effect by sowing date and genotype. Late sowing date resulted in early days of flowering. Yield components (weight of pods/plant, number of seeds/ pod, numbers of seeds/ plant shoot dry weight) and yield (kg/ha) revealed highly significant difference in sowing date only. While 100 seeds weight, weight of seeds/plant and harvest index showed no significant differences may be the former two parameters are genetically controlled. In conclusion, the first sowing date at July 2 was the best sowing date for growing soybean in this climatic zone of Sudan according to the above finding. G2 (1905) was favorite than G1 (1904) but without clear significant evidence. The interaction between sowing date and genotypes also gave superiority to S1G2 for all parameters with slight difference among treatments.