Seed Scarification and Day Length Effect on the Germination and Vegetative Growth of Soybeans (Glycine max)

Abstract

Studies were carried out to determine the scarification and day length effects on the germination and early growth of soybean (Glycine max). Soil was collected from the biological garden of Yobe State University Damaturu. The soybean seed sample consists of two different treatments including scarified and unscarified seeds with two different levels of day length. A soybean of the tested varieties was sown in a polythene pot with a depth of half an inch. About two seeds mixed with a star dress were sown in each polythene bag. The data collected were analyzed using Genstat software 16 editions versus. Results of the experiments carried out indicate that, the seeds of soybeans have a highest rate of germination percentage when subjected to scarification treatment. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that, there is no effect of scarification on the germination of soybeans but there was significance in the effect of scarification on the vegetative growth in which the plants that were exposed to 12 hours day and 12 hours night grew faster than those exposed to 24 hours. It is therefore believed that the method of preventing dormancy can be used on soybeans in order to improve the growth and subsequent yield of the soybean crop.