Effects of Sowing Date on Growth and Yield of Some Two Varieties of Soybean (Glyxine max) in the Forest-savannah Agro-Ecology of Nigeria

Field experiment was conducted investigate effects of sowing date on growth and yield of soybean using two selected varieties of soybean (Samsoy 2 and TGX 923-2E) during the late and early rains of the years 2015 and 2016 respectively. In order to determine the optimum date(s) for good growth and yield of soybean, four sowing dates were selected at two weeks interval. For late sowing, 8th (D1* L), 22nd (D2* L) of July and 9^th (D3* L) and 23^rd (D4* L) of August, 2015, while the planting dates for early raining season were 7th (D1* E), 21^st (D2* E) of April and 5th (D3* E) and 19th (D4* E) of May, 2016 were followed. Variables measured were plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches per plant, number of flowers, and number of pods per plant and grain yield per hectare. Cultivar differences were noticed among the two varieties of soybean which indicated their generic differences. Samsoy 2 matured earlier and produced bigger seeds than TGX 923-2E. TGX 923-2E produced larger leaf area, more flowers, more pod per plant and more seeds per pod than Samsoy 2. Generally plant height, number of pods and the grain yield per hectare decreased with delayed sowing irrespective of season of sowing and variety sowed. Sowing of soybean for good grain yield should not be delayed beyond mid-August for late sowing, while sowing is best done at the onset of rains for early season sowing in forest-savannah agro-ecology of Nigeria.

Author(s): Adetayo Adewale O

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