DefinePK

Abstract

Planting date plays a significant role in soybean maturity and biomass yield. To study the maturity and biomass production potential under different environmental conditions, three indigenous land races (Kulat brown, Kulat white, Mothi) and two improved varieties (NARC-II, Swat-84) of soybean were planted at monthly from April to July during 2004 and 2005 growing season, at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agricultural Peshawar, Pakistan. Data was recorded for full maturity, plant height and biomass production. April planted crop took maximum days (187) to maturity, which decreased gradually with delay in planting. May planted crop gave maximum plant height (91.4 cm) and biomass yield (12598 kg ha-1) which decreased in later planting. Kulat white took maximum days (170) to maturity and attained maximum plant height (107 cm). However maximum biomass 12606 kg ha-1 yield was given by Mothi. Landraces took 41 days more than improved varieties to mature. In land races the plant height was almost double and the biomass yield was 31 percent higher than the improved varieties. Land races could prove higher yielders if the extra biomass production is directed towards seed filling.
Keywords: Planting dates; Maturity; Biomass; Soybean land races
http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2016.50054