Yield attributes, yield and quality of soybean (Glycine max) as influenced by integrated nutrient management

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2000 and 2001 at the Indian Agricutlural Research Institute, New Delhi, to study the effect of integrated nutrient management in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on its yield attributes, seed yield and quality attributes. The treatments included recommended rate of NPK fertilizers alone or in combination with zinc @ 25 kg ZnSO₄/ha or FYM @ 5 tonnes/ha or biofetilizers or wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) residue incorporation @ 5 tonnes/ha. The application of recommended level of NPK with FYM and biofertilizers showed superiority for pods/plant, seeds/pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield, protein and oil content in soybean seed over the sole application of recommended NPK level. The combined application of NPK + FYM + biofertilizer recorded the highest number of pods/plant (38.45 and 37.89), seeds/pod (2.90 and 2.87) and 100-seed weight of soybean during 2000 and 2001 respectively. The highest protein content was recorded in treatment receiving NPK + FYM + crop residue (39.43 and 38.12% in 2000 and 2001 respectively), while the highest oil content in treatment receiving NPK+FYM + BF.