EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS, PLANT-DENSITY AND PLANT TYPE ON YIELD AND YIELD-ATTRIBUTING CHARACTERS OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE-MAX)

A field experiment was conducted during 1986 and 1987 to find out the effect of phosphorus, plant density and plant type on yield of soybean [Glycine mar (L.) Merr.]. Pooled analysis indicated that grain yield and its attributing characters increased significantly with increasing levels of P. The number of pods/plant, grain yield/plant, seed index, grain yield and straw yield increased significantly up to 40 kg P2O5/ ha and number of grains/pod increased up to 80 kg P2O5/ha. The respons e to phosphorus was nonsignificant for harvest index. All yield-attrib uting characters performed well at 400,000 plant/ha Grain and straw yi elds were significantly better at 600,000 plants/ha and at 800,000 pla nts/ha respectively. Erect plant type ('JS 75-46') was superior to spr eading type for almost all yield-attributing characters and grain yiel d. However, spreading type ('JS 72-44) was found better for straw yiel d.