Optimization of intense plant to plant spacing of soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merrill] for better productivity and quality seeds in the Western Himalayas

Abstract

At the Pantnagar's Crop Research Centre, a field experiment was conducted during the 2019 Kharif season with the objective to establish the best plant-to-plant spacing for the PS 1092 and SL 958 soybean cultivars, which were developed especially for the western Himalayan region. The goal of the study was to determine how variable plant-to-plant spacing affected a variety of factors, including soybean production attributes, yield parameters, and quality metrics, particularly when ridge and furrow planting schemes were taken into consideration. The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design, with four plant-to-plant spacing intervals (5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, and 20 cm) and two cultivars (PS 1092 and SL 958). Intense spacing treatments exhibited a discernible influence on soybean seed yield, stover yield, and total biological yield. The configuration of 45 cm × 10 cm spacing resulted in heightened productivity, showcasing maximal seed yield, stover yield, and total biological yield in comparison to alternative treatments. Furthermore, the stringent spacing regimens significantly impacted the quality parameters of soybeans. The protein content and oil content reached their zenith within plots featuring a plant-to-plant spacing of 10 cm. Intriguingly, no noteworthy differences surfaced in terms of productivity and quality parameters between the two soybean varieties. In summation, this study deduces that for achieving heightened productivity and superior quality of soybean varieties, PS 1092 and SL 958, in the Tarai conditions of the Western Himalayas, the recommended spacing of 45 cm × 10 cm holds promise.