EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM AND SULPHUR ON THE GROWTH, YIELD, PROTEIN AND OIL CONTENT OF SOYBEAN (Glycine Max L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Farm, Dhaka 1207 during the period from December 2011 to April 2012 to study the culècts of potassium and sulphur on the growth, yield, protein and oil content of soybean (Glycine mar var.BARI Soybean 5). The experimental soil was clay loam in texture having pH of 6.6. The experiment included four levels of potassium viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K ha" and four levels of sulphur viz., 0, 10. 20 and 30kg S ha". The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Potassium showed significant effect on yield and yield attributes of soybean. Application of potassium @40 kg ha-1 produced the highest seed yield, plant height, number of primary branches plant", number of leaves plant", number of pods plant", number of seeds plant-', 1000-seed weight and straw yield. In all the cases lower response was found from the control treatment. Sulphur fertilizer also had significant effect on yield and yield attributes of soybean. Application of sulphur @ 20 kg ha" produced the highest seed yield, plant height, number of primary branches plant', number of leaves plant", number of pods plant", number of seeds plant'. 1000-seed weight and straw yield but in all the cases the lower response was found from the control treatment. Potassium in combination with sulphur showed significant effect on yield and yield attributes of soybean. The combination of potassium and sulphur @40 Kg K and 20 kg S ha' gave the highest seed yield, number of primary branches plant', number of leaves plant", number of pods plant". number of seeds plant". 1000-seed weight, protein and oil contents of soybean except plant height. The highest plant height was observed with the application of potassium @ 60 kg ha" and sulphur @ 20 kg ha'. On the other hand, in all the cases the lower response was found from the control treatment.