Effect of nitrogen, its application time and sulphur on yield and quality of soybean (Glycine max)

An experiment with 3 nitrogen levels (30,60 and 90 kg/ha), 3 times of nitro gen application (full basal, 1/2 basal + 1/2 top-dressing and 1/2) basal 1/4 top-dressing + 1/4 foliar spray) and 3 sulphur levels (0,30 and 60 kg/h a was conducted during the rainy season (kharif) season of 1995 and 1996. A n application of 60 kg N/ha resulted in 22.1 and 21.1% increase in seed yie ld during the first and second year over 30 kg N/ha. The respective increas e in stover and biological yields was 17.8 and 17.1 and 19.1 and 18.2%. The oil and protein content of seed remained at par at all levels of N, while oil and protein yield increased significantly up to 60 kg Nha. During both the years minimum seed yield (17.37 and 17.64 q/ha) was observed with all b asal application. The 2 methods involving splitting of N were at par in thi s regards and significantly superior to all basal. Similar trend of results was observed for stover and biological yields. Although the oil and protei n content of seed remained unaffected by time of N application, full basal resulted in statistically lower oil and protein yields than the remaining 2 methods which were at par with each other. Mean seed yield obtained under 60 kg S/ha was 18.97 q/ha, being significantly higher over the control, and there was no significant variation from 0 to 30 and 30 to 60 kg S/ha. Simi lar trend was observed for stover, biological, oil and protein yields.