Formation of biometric parameters and seed quality indicators of soybean varieties depending on technological factors

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of plant growth regulators and sowing methods on biometric parameters and seed quality indicators of different soybean varieties grown under the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe. Methods. During the research, general scientific methods were applied: hypothesis formulation, observation, and analysis; as well as specific methods, including laboratory and field studies. Biometric analyses of plants were conducted to determine plant height and the number of pods per plant, and laboratory analyses were carried out to assess the protein and oil content in soybean seeds. A three-factor experiment was established: factor A – variety (Sandra, Biliavka, and Ultra), factor B – sowing method (continuous row sowing with 15 cm row spacing and wide-row sowing with 45 cm row spacing), factor C – plant growth regulator. Experimental data were processed using mathematical statistics methods according to V. O. Yeshchenko. Results. The paper presents the results of field and laboratory studies on the influence of plant growth regulators and sowing methods on the biometric and seed quality indicators of different soybean varieties, particularly protein and oil content under the conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe. Based on three years of research, more effective combinations of sowing methods, growth regulators, and varieties adapted to local soil and climatic conditions were identified. The effectiveness of gibberellin application and the sowing method on plant height and number of pods per plant was established and statistically confirmed. Moreover, the dependence of protein and oil content in soybean seeds on the experimental factors was determined. Conclusions. On average over the years of study, the tallest plants (88,2 cm) were formed by the Ultra variety under continuous row sowing. In this variant, plants also formed the optimal number of pods – 32,8 per plant. Under wide-row sowing, the Ultra variety was also the most productive, though biometric indicators were slightly lower – plant height was reduced by 1,9 cm and the number of pods by 1,5. In this variant, the optimal protein content (39.1 %) and oil content (18.5 %) were recorded.