A report on

Effect of Spacing on Height, Dry Matter,

Nodulation and LAI on soybean.

Submitted by:
Bijaya Sapkota
B.Sc.ag 5th semester
IAAS, lamjung campus

Submitted to

Dr. Madhav Neupane Dr. Lal P. Amgain

Assistant Professor Associate professor
IAAS, Lamjung IAAS, Lamjung
1. Introduction

Soybean is leguminous plants which is considered as a king of beans. It contain

High quality protein (43%) and oil (20%) content. Its protein content is about 2
times as much as pork, 3 times more than eggs as and 12 times more than milk. It
is the important oilseed crop in the world, accounting more than 50 per cent of
oilseed produced and 30 per cent of the total supply of all vegetable oils. It is the
second most consumed oil in the world but the meal is the major ingredient in feed
which accounts about 75%, especially for chickens and pig and is currently the
largest source of protein feed in the world. Soybeans are a valuable resource for
both oil and protein and are used for a wide variety of consumer uses today.
Soybean oil can be separated into industrial and edible products. Edible uses
include margarine, shortenings, salad oils, deserts, and drug manufacturing, while
industrial uses include soaps, inks, putty, insecticides, adhesives, linoleum, and
lectin. Soybean meal was first used as by-product from crushing of soybean for oil.
Soybeans are a valuable resource for both oil and protein and are used for a wide
variety of consumer uses today. Soybean oil can be separated into industrial and
edible products. Edible uses include margarine, shortenings, salad oils, deserts, and
drug manufacturing, while industrial uses include soaps, inks, putty, insecticides,
adhesives, linoleum, and lectin. Soybean meal was first used as by-product from
crushing of soybean for oil.

Domestication of soybean (Glycine max) began in Eastern Asia in the 11th century
B.C, and continues today to be the foundation of East Asian nutrition and cuisine
(Hymowitz and Newell, 1981). Soybeans were first introduced to America in 1765
by Samuel Bowen for use as a green forage crop (Hymowitz and Harlan, 1983). In
the early 1900s the United States Department of Agriculture began testing and
promoting soybeans as a forage crop. By the 1920s, soybean production expanded
into the Corn Belt and began to shift toward grain production. Then, by 1941,
soybean grain hectares exceeded forage hectares for the first time (Probst and Judd,
1973). In 1950, the United States grew 6 million all-purpose hectares of soybean,
and by 2010, that number had increased 5 fold and soybean was the 3rd most
valuable agricultural commodity following beef and maize (USDA NASS, 2010).
Today, soybeans are among the three principal field crops in the U.S.

Row Spacing directly effect on the yield of soybean( Spilde, Whited, and
Sletteland ). (Swallers,1956)found narrow rows did not increase yields unless
planting was delayed and early maturing varieties were planted. Among the
spacing of (20 10, 20 5, 40 10, and 40 5 cm) Plants grown at the widest
spacing (i.e., 40 10 cm) produced lowest leaf area and shoot biomass at 6 and 12
weeks after planting. Leaf area and shoot biomass at other three spacing were
similar (Chauhan*and Opena, 2013). (Khelkar et al. ,1991) and (Pramila and
Kodandaramiah ,1997) reported that an increase in plant spacing resulted in
progressive increase in plant height. Ravichandran and Ramaswami (1993)
reported increasing trend in dry matter production with increase in plant density
and spacing. A decreasing trend in the nodule number was observed with respect to
increasing in plant spacing.(Lone and hasan,2009).

2. Objective:
Broad objective:
To find out the effect of spacing on growth and yieid of soyabean.
Specific objective:
To find out the effect of spacing on number of nodules formed.
To calculate the leaf area index at different spacing.
To calculate the biomass at different spacing.
To find out the yield at different spacing.

3.METHODS AND MATERIALS USED:

3.1 Site Selection

Sundarbazar municipality (Ward no. 7) ,of lamjung district was selected as our site
of study. It is situated in the hilly region of our country. Sundarbazar is located 150
km North-West of Kathmandu, the country's capital town. And about 20 km from
Besisahar, Headquarter of Lamjung. It lies in the Latitude of 288'8.49" and
longitude of 8426'27.61. This region was selected because of the Accessibility
for performing research and Easier to supervise and monitor the field. This region
is selected because of Soybean being one of the major crops of local people also.
3.2Treatment Details

Number of treatment=7(spacing)

T1=40*10, T2=40*15, T3=48*10, T4=40*20, T5=48*15, T6=48*20, T7=60*10,

Number of Replication=3

Number of Plot=21

Design=RCBD (Randomized complete block design).

Plot Size: 4.8*2.2

Spacing between plot: 0.5m
Spacing between blocks: 0.5m

Layout plan

2.2 m

4.2
3.3Cultivation practice
3.3.1 Land preparation and sowing:
At first Primary tillage as operated through local plough. And after making the
plot, secondary tillage was carried out using local tools i.e. spade. soybean seed
were sown on 28th July using dibbling method.2 seeds were sown in each hills. On
8th august mulching were performed to protect from splash erosion.
3.3.2Manuring and fertilizer:
As recommended by NARC (20:40:20 NPK Kg/Ha) i.e.
DAP: 55 gm/plot.
MOP: 24 gm/plot.
Farm manure was not used.

3.4 Data collection

Four parameter were selected to analyze the data. Different instrument and
procedure were performed to collect the data of these parameter.
Height:
5 plants selected at random and height measured by scale unto
topmost internode

Root nodule:
Plants were uprooted gently by softening the soil
No of nodules counted for 5 plants selected at random

Dry matter:
5 plants plucked out at random
Washed properly
Kept in oven for 96hrs at 74 degree Celsius.
Thus obtained DM was converted to Kg/Ha.

LAI (Leaf area index)

 Plot
Leaf area Plant population per plot

Leaf area=L B 2.0185

Plot Spacing (RR PP)
Plant Population=
As two seeds were planted per hill, total plant population is multiplied
by 2.
2 2
As leaf area is in cm and plot size is in m , LAI was divided by
10000, to have same unit in numerator and denominator.
Leaf area plant population
LAI= 4.8 2.2 10000

3.5DATA ANALYSIS:

The collected data were coded, entered and analyzed using different data
analysis software such as MS Excel and Genstat. Data were firstly tabulated
in MS excel and ANOVA preparation and mean separation done by GenStat.

Before analyzing the Data, every research have Two hypothesis.

Two hypotheses were set:

1) All treatment are same-Null hypothesis

2) All the treatment are not same-Alternate hypothesis.
 4.RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

As our research aimed at studying Height, Dry matter, Nodule and Leaf area index,
following were the outcomes.
Table1: Mean separation table for effect of spacing in Nodule number of Soybean plant.

Treatment Spacing Mean Height/ Plant

T1 40*10 18.23 NS
T2 40*15 17.06 NS
T3 40*20 19.50 NS
T4 48*10 19.77 NS
T5 48*15 13.53 NS
T6 48*20 15.26 NS
T7 60*10 14.38 NS
Sig of block: 0.034

15
LSD: 5.909
CV= 16%
 Table 2:Mean separation table for effect of spacing in Nodule number of
Soybean.
In the table we got significance of block is 0.034 i.e. less than 0.05.this implies There was significant
difference between the block. And RCBD used makes the plot homogeneous.similarly,We got LSD
value 5.909 Treatment Spacing
which is greater than 0.05 Thus, there is not anyNosignificant
of Nodule/
difference between spacing
and plant height in soybean. All the spacing are at Par. Plant at 30 DAS

T1 40*10 10.667 NS
Our data is supported by Lone et.al 2009, mean height at 90DAS is insignificant when row spacing
are 30cm 45cm and 90cm. Also, this data is in accordance with data of Dougherty, 2012.
T2 to Shamsi, 2012 Plant
But according 40*15
height increases with10.867 NS
increase in planting density.

T3 40*20 7.181 NS

T4 48*10 11.600 NS

T5 48*15 8.367 NS

T6 48*20 8.867 NS

T7 60*10 10.667 NS

Sig of block: 0.649

CV= 10.7%

LSD: 7.329

In the table we got significance of block as 0.649 which is greater than 0.05.which
means our blocks are not significant. so, In this case we can also use CRD too.

Thus, there is not any significant difference between

17
Similarly, LSD value(7.329) which is greater than 0.05 , there is not any
significant difference between spacing and root nodules in soybean. All the
spacing are at Par .The given treatments have variance of 10.72%.,though all the
spacing represent same no of nodules here.

And according to Lone et.al 2009, no of nodules/ plant at 90DAS is insignificant

when row spacing are 30cm 45cm and 90cm. This data is also supported by
Dougherty, 2012 mentioning insignificance of spacing in nodulation.

Table 3:Mean separation table for effect of spacing in Leaf area index of
Soybean.

Treatment Spacing LAI at 30 DAS

T1 40*10 0.1785 a
T2 40*15 0.1306 ab
T3 40*20 0.1292 ab
T4 48*10 0.1275 ab
T5 48*15 0.1223 ab
T6 48*20 0.0815 b*
T7 60*10 0.0788 b*
Sig of block: 0.054
LSD: 0.02
CV= 28.7%

Highest LAI is obtained at T1 i.e. 40cm *10 cm spacing. Treatment T6 and T7 are
inferior to T1 and are at par with each other. Treatment T2, T3, T4, T5 are at par
with both T1 and T7.by seeing the above table we can say that Treatment T1 is
superior than other.so,while prescribing the farmer we can say that treatment
T1,T2,T3,T4, and T5 can be selected for better leaf area index than that of
treatment T6 and T7.The value of significance of block=0.054 i.e. greater than
0.05.Thus, there is no significance difference between our block.so,we may also
use CRD too.

But, according to Lone et.al 2009, LAI at is insignificant at different row spacing.
Treatment Spacing DM (Kg/Ha) at 30 DAS
T1 40*10 22.50 NS
T2 40*15 14.56 NS
T3 40*20 12.00 NS
T4 48*10 21.53 NS
T5 48*15 13.52 NS
T6 48*20 11.11 NS
T7 60*10 23.67 NS
Sig of block: 0.776
LSD: 5.41
CV= 37.2%
Table 4:Mean separation table for effect of spacing in Dry matter of Soybean
plant.

Spacing doesnt have any impact on Dry matter yield. All the treatments are at
par.This implies to obtain greater dry matter yield ,any spacing can be performed
as, they all are non-significance.

This insignificant in DM with spacing is also the finding of Dougherty, 2012.

5.Conclusion:
Lamjung being in the central hub of all the emerging districts
around and having a huge variation in the agro-climatic zone
within the same district has a huge potential in soybean
production. Increasing interest in modern agricultural practices
like high yielding variety, short duration variety, and different
modern tools can be observed in Lamjung. But, This create a high
cost of production. so, Many farmer hesitate to adopt modern
practice. so, The farmers of Lamjung have not been able to grasp
a better yield from this crops.

The research we performed here directly helps farmer to increase

yield without increasing the cost of production. Through managing
simply the spacing during sowing time, They can increase their
yield. Among the 7 treatment we used i.e.

Treatment T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
Spacing 40*10 40*15 48*10 40*20 48*15 48*20 60*10

Out of these 7 different treatments, Dry matter, Nodulation and

Height was insignificant in all the treatments. But LAI was
significant in T1 i.e. 40*10. Though other 3 parameter have
insignificance value, spacing can differ LAI. As, LAI is one of the
important Yield attributing factor. It can help to uplift the yield of
soybean
Thus finally from this research I conclude that 40*10 spacing is
best in case of lamjung Sundarbazar.
6.References:

Shamsi. 2012. Effect of Plant Population on Soybean Development and

Production. International Conference on Environment, Agriculture and Food
Sciences.Available:
http://psrcentre.org/images/extraimages/33%20812163.pdf

Lone et.al. 2009. EFFECT OF SEED RATE, ROW SPACING AND

FERTILITY LEVELS ON GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE OF
SOYBEAN (Glycine max. L.) UNDER TEMPERATE CONDITIONS .
ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science. Available at:
http://www.arpnjournals.com/jabs/research_papers/rp_2009/jabs_0509_126.
pdf

Dougherty. 2012. The influence of irrigation,row spacing,plant

population,and inoculation on the yield of soybeans in canterbury. New
Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research. Available at:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00288233.1969.10421188

MARTIN. 1988. ECHO TECHNICAL NOTE. Available at:

https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/echocommunity.site-
ym.com/resource/collection/27A14B94-EFE8-4D8A-BB83-
36A61F414E3B/Soybean.pdf

Singh. 2009. CAB International. The soybean, Notany, Production and uses.
Available at: http://203.64.245.61/images/book/NB3.pdf

B. Chauhan and J. Opea.2013. "Effect of Plant Spacing on Growth and

Grain Yield of Soybean," American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 10.

Swallers, C. M. 1957. The effect of dates and rates of planting and row
width upon certain characters of four soybean varieties. MS thesis. North
Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota. 59 p