Starter Nitrogen Fertilizer Impact on Soybean Yield and Quality
Maryam Valinejad1, Sekineh Vaseghi2, Mehran Afzali3
1Maryam Valinejad, Assistant Professor, Department of Pedology and Soil Science, Savadkooh branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran.
2Sekineh Vaseghi, Assistant Professor, Department of Pedology and Soil Science, Savadkooh branch, Islamic Azad University, Savadkooh, Iran.
3Mehran Afzali, Scientific Member, Department of Soil & Water, Agriculture & Natural Resources Organization, Sari, Iran.
Manuscript received on September 21, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on October 01, 2013. | Manuscript published on October 30, 2013. | PP: 333-337 | Volume-3, Issue-1, October 2013. | Retrieval Number: A2250103113/2013©BEIESP
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Though there have been numerous studies on the effect of nitrogen(N) fertilization on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], relatively few have investigated early season N application in the environment of the northern of Iran. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of starter N fertilization on soybean yield and quality. To achieve this objective a field experiment was established, using a split-plot design with three replications. Whole plots were tillage [no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT)] with starter fertilizer rate as the split plot treatments. Nitrogen was band applied at planting as urea (UR), at rates to supply 0, 16, 32 and 64 kg N /ha.As a result yields were greater for the CT than NT, possibly due to more favorable environmental conditions. Analysis of the experiment showed an average yield increase of 16.4% and 12.2% for the 32 kg N ha rate, compared to the no N treatment in CT and N , with no difference in grain N or oil concentration. This research demonstrates that applying N as starter has the potential to increase soybean yield but this may or may not translate into improved grain quality in the unique environments of the northern of Iran.
Keywords: Soybean-Nitrogen-Starter-Yield.