Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T02:34:22.269Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of date of harvest on seed quality and viability of soya beans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. Nangju
Affiliation:
International Institute of Tropical AgricultureIbadan, Nigeria

Summary

Field experiments were made in both 1974 rainy seasons in Ibadan, Nigeria, to evaluate the effect of harvest time on seed quality and viability of soya beans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The first harvest was made when about 85% of the pods had ripened and subsequent harvests were made at 7-day intervals. Delaying harvest increased the percentage purple-stained, cracked and black seeds in the first season, and of cracked seed in the second season. In the second season soya-bean seeds showed neither purpling nor dark discoloration on the seed coat; the crop matured during sunny, dry weather. However, in both seasons the reduction in seed quality was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in germination percentage. Varietal differences were noted in that the small-seeded Improved Pelican was least affected, and Hardee was the most affected by field weathering in both seasons. Kent and Bossier were intermediate between the two extremes. The results point out the importance of proper timing of harvest of soya beans in rainy seasons, and the need for screening soya beans for resistance to weathering in the tropics.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cartter, J. L. & Hartwig, E. E. (1962). The management of soybeans. Advances in Agronomy 14, 359412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delouche, J. C., Still, T. W., Raspet, M. & Lienhard, M. (1962). The tetrazolium test for seed viability. Mississippi Agriculture Experiment Station Technical BiMetin no. 51.Google Scholar
Ezedinma, F. O. C. (1965). Some factors influencing the production of grain legumes in southern Nigeria. Proceedings of Third Annual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria 4, 4850.Google Scholar
Feaster, C. V. (1949). Influence of planting date on yield and other characteristics of soybean grown in southern Missouri. Agronomy Journal 41, 5762.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, D. E., Pinnell, E. L., Cavanah, L. E. & Williams, L. F. (1965). Effect of planting date and maturity date on soybean seed quality. Agronomy Journal 57, 165–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, H. B., Parker, M. B. & Johnson, B. J. (1965). Influence of molybdenum content of soybean seed and other factors assoociated with seed source on progeny response to applied molybdenum. Agronomy Journal 57, 397–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (1974). 1973 Report of drain Legume Improvement Program, 78 pp. Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Mercer-Quarshie, H. & Nsowah, G. F. (1976). Soybeans in Ghana. In Soybean Production, Protection and Utilization (ed. Whigham, D. K.). Urbana-Champaign: University of Illinois.Google Scholar
Murakishi, H. H. (1951). Purple seed stain of soybeans. Phytopathology 41, 305–18.Google Scholar
Nangju, D., Wien, H. C. & Singh, T. P. (1975). Some factors affecting soybean viability and emergence in the lowland tropics. Paper presented at the World Soybean Research Conference at Vrbana, Illinois, U.S.A. August 1975.Google Scholar
Rachie, K. O. & Roberts, L. M. (1974). Grain legumes of the lowland tropics. Advances in Agronomy 26, 1131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sherwin, H. S. & Kreitlow, K. W. (1952). Discoloration of soybean seeds by the frogeye fungus, Cercospora sojina. Phytopathology 42, 668–72.Google Scholar
Torrie, J. H. & Briggs, G. M. (1955). Effect of planting date on yields and other characteristics of soybeans. Agronomy Journal 47, 210–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar