INFLUENCE OF SOWING METHOD ON WEED SUPPRESSION AND YIELD RESPONSE OF SOYBEAN VARIETIES IN SUDAN SAVANNA AGRO ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/jaat.2025.1101.09Keywords:
crop-weed competition,, soybean varieties,, sowing methods,, weed suppression,, yieldAbstract
Weed pressure and suboptimal agronomic practices reduce soybean productivity in Nigeria’s Sudan Savannah. A 2023 rainy-season field trial was conducted at Bayero University Kano and a community farm in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Five soybean varieties (TGX 1955-4F, TGX 1987-10F, TGX 1987-6F, TGX 1951-3F, TGX 1835-10E) were tested under drilling, single-row dibbling, and double-row dibbling for weed suppression, growth, and yield. Across sites, drilling recorded the lowest weed density (12.0 m⁻²) and dry matter (148.2 g m⁻²), and the highest grain yields (1872.3 kg ha⁻¹ at Kano, 1672.2 kg ha⁻¹ at Dutsin-Ma). TGX 1955-4F produced the most pods (24.73 pods/plant), the highest pod weight (30.51 g), and the top yield (2200 kg ha⁻¹) under drilling. TGX 1987-10F had the heaviest seeds (58.56 g/100 seeds) but the lowest yield (1130.1 kg ha⁻¹). TGX 1955-4F with drilling is recommended for optimal weed suppression and yield in the Sudan Savannah.
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