Plant Density Effects on Yield and Yield Attributes of Two Soybean Varieties in Kharif-II Season of Bangladesh

The present study was undertaken with a view to study the effect of plant density on yield and yield attributes of two soybeanvarieties in kharif–II season. The experiment was conducted in kharif-II season 2012 at mymensingh with two soybeanvarieties, namely PB-1 (Shohag) and G-2 (Bangladesh soybean-4) and six plant densities, viz; 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120plants m-2 established using an equidistant (square) planting pattern of 22.4cm x 22.4 cm, 15.8 cm x 15.8 cm, 12.9 cm x12.9cm, 11.2 cm x 11.2 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm and 9.1 cm 9.1 cm, respectively. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot designwith varieties in main-plots and plant densities in sub-plots. The treatments were replicated three times. Increased plantdensity increased plant height, number of nodes plant-1, total dry matter, seed yield (1.02 t ha-1) and Stover yield (1.15 t ha-1)80 to 100 plants m-2 and then decreased with increased plant density. Again increased plant density linearly decreased innumber of branches plant-1, fertile pods plant-1, non-fertile pods plant-1, number of seeds plant-1, seed yield plant-1 and 100-seed weight up to 120 plants m-2 depending on variety and season. The study concludes that the highest yield of soybeanin kharif –II season could be obtained from varietyPB-1 with a plant density of 100 plants m-2 and 80 plants m-2in G-2.