Effects of methanol on the yield and growth of soybean in different irrigation conditions

Abstract

To investigate the effects of methanol on the yield and growth of soybean (Glysine max L.) in different conditions of irrigation a split plot experiment was conducted in the form of randomized complete block design during three replications at the Research field of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch in the year 2012. Aqueous solutions 0 (control), 7, 14, 21 and 28% (v/v) of methanol as well as three levels of irrigation 40, 65 and 70% soil water depletion were factors of this study. The results of the ANOVA indicated that the interaction effects of methanol and irrigation on harvest index, leaf area index, dry leaf weight, dry pods weight and phonological levels were significant. Generally, it can be stated that foliar application of methanol in moderate concentrations in different conditions of irrigation on soybean variety of Williams caused relative improvement in growth indexes. Due to the indeterminate growth of soybean, on the one hand increase in photosynthesis and dry matter production and the other hand relative accelerated flowering phase due to the use of methanol lead to decrease in remobilization time, therefore no significant difference was observed in grain yield.