MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SOYBEAN VARIETIES FOR THEIR POTENTIALITY AS INTERCROP

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the research field of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period from February to June 2018 to evaluate the four soybean varieties in regard to morpho-physiological, yield and yield contributing characters under different light levels. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Three light levels i.e. natural light, 60 and 30 percent of natural light were assigned in the main plot while four soybean varieties (BARI Soybean-5, BARI Soybean-6, Sohag and BU Soybean-1) were assigned in the sub-plot. Light levels were reduced using mosquito nets of different mesh sizes and color. Different light levels had a significant effect on morpho-physiological characteristics like plant height, number of primary branches, number of leaves, leaf area, SPAD value, chlorophyll content, dry weight of leaf at different days after shading. Plant height and leaf area were increased but number of leaves per plant and number of primary branch were reduced under partial shade condition. Dry weight of leaf was reduced due to partial shade condition. SPAD value and total leaf chlorophyll were increased and the increment in chlorophyll content was mainly for the increment of chlorophyll b content under partial shade condition. Leaf thickness was reduced due to shading. Yield and yield attributes of different soybean varieties were affected due to partial shading but Sohag and BU Soybean -1 affected more in 60% of natural light and Sohag affected more than other three varieties in 30% of natural light.