EFFECT OF NITROGEN LEVELS AND TIME OF APPLICATIONS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF SOYBEAN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy research field, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during January 2013 to March 2013,to find out the effect of 4 nitrogen levels viz., N1 (10 kg ha-1), N2 (20 kg ha-1), N3 (30 kg ha-1), N4 (40 kg ha-1) and different splitting of nitrogen viz., S1= ( split application at basal), S2= (split application at basal and at 10 DAS), S3= ( split application at basal, at 10 DAS and at 20 DAS) and S4 =( split application at basal, at 10 DAS, at 20 DAS and at 30 DAS) on the seed yield and quality of soybean. The application of nitrogen levels had significant effect on yield and quality contributing parameters of soybean irrespective of splitting of nitrogen. Application of 40 kg ha-1 exhibited the best performance for all growth, yield and seed quality of soybean. From 4 split N application (at basal, at 10 DAS, at 20 DAS and at 30 DAS) showed best results whereas lowest in split application at basal. Out of 16 treatment combinations, 40 kg ha-1 with 4 split application at basal, at 10 DAS, at 20 DAS and at 30 DAS of nitrogen performed the best in terms of yield and quality of soybean. The maximum yield (2.29 t ha-1) was obtained by 40 kg N ha-1 with 4 split application at basal, at 10 DAS, at 20 DAS and at 30 DAS. The maximum protein percentages (40.79%) was found in N4S3 combination whereas the minimum (36.10%) was in N1S3. These results indicated that the application of 40 kg N ha-1 with 4 split application ( at basal, at 10 DAS, at 20 DAS and at 30 DAS) would be best for maximizing the seed yield and quality of soybean.