Effect of nutrient management options on productivity and economics of soybean (Glycine max) varieties

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2015 on a silty clay loam soil at Rahuri, Maharashtra, to study the effect of varying nutrient management on productivity and economics of different varieties of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with 15 treatment combinations of 3 varieties ‘KDS 344’, ‘JS 9305’ and ‘KS 103’ and 5 nutrient-management levels, viz. general recommended dose of fertilizer (GRDF)-50, 75, 0-N, P₂O₅, K₂O kg/ha + 5.0 tonnes FYM/ha (N₁); 75% GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of grade II at 30 and 45 days after sowing (N₂); 100% GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of grade II at 30 and 45 DAS (N₃); 125% GRDF + 0.5% foliar spray of grade II at 30 and 45 DAS (N₄); and 50, 75, 30 N, P₂O₅, K₂O kg/ha + 5 tonnes FYM/ha(N₅).The variety ‘KDS 344’ and application of nutrient dose of 125% GRDF + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded higher growth and yield attributes, viz. plant height (cm), branches/plant, pods/plant and weight of seeds/plant (g) than ‘KS 103’ and ‘JS 9305’. Similarly, the treatment combination of ‘KDS 344’ and application of nutrient dose of 125% GRDF + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded significantly higher grain yield (8.76 and 31.65%) than the variety ‘KDS 344’ with GRDF and 50, 75, 30 N, P₂O₅, K₂O kg/ha + 5.0 tonnes FYM/ha. The variety ‘KDS 344’ gave the highest net returns (87.3 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.17). Similarly, application of nutrient levels 75% GRDF + 0.5% grade II foliar spray at 30 and 45 DAS recorded the highest net returns ( 82.7 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (3.24). Thus, the maximum productivity and profitability of soybean can be achieved from variety ‘KDS 344’ fertilized with 75% GRDF (37.5, 56.25, 0 N, P₂O₅, K₂O kg/ha + 3.75 tonnes FYM/ha) + 0.5% Grade II foliar spray of micronutrient at 30 and 45 DAS.