Growth and yield response of soybean to manure and DAP-fertilizer under climatic conditions Kabul Province of Republic Afghanistan



Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a one of the most important protein sources for human and livestock all over the world. The experimental was conducted during 2018 in field conditions at the research farm of agriculture faculty, Kabul University. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments; T1 control, T2–100 % SM, T3–100 % RDF, T4–75 % RDF + 50 % SM, T5–50 % RDF + 50 % SM and T6- 50 % SM. Each experimental unit was replicated thrice with a plot size of 2x3 m ² . The soil of the experiment was sandy clay loam in texture with pH 8.65. Observations recorded from plant height/cm, number of leaves/plant, dry weight/plant (gr), number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, weight of 100 seed (gr) and seed yield kg/ha. All growth parameters were recorded significantly higher with the application of 75 % RDF + 50 % SM (T4), as compared to T1 and T6. But it was not significant with the application of 100 % RDF and 100 % SM, during all crop growth stages. Yield attributing characters, were also significantly higher in T4 than T1, T2 and T6. However, it was not significant with T2 and T3. The objectives of the experiment were to compare the effects of different levels of Manure, DAP and to find out their suitable combination on the growth and yield of soybean.

Keywords: Soybean, Sheep manure, fertilizer, combination, growth, parameters, seed, yield parameterssoil.

Соя [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] является одним из наиболее важных источников белка для человека и домашнего скота во всем мире. Эксперимент проводился в течение 2021 года в полевых условиях на исследовательской ферме сельскохозяйственного факультета Кабульского университета. Эксперимент был организован в виде рандомизированного полного блочного дизайна с шестью обработками; Т1 контроль, Т2–100 % СМ, Т3–100 % РДФ, Т4–75 % РДФ + 50 % СМ, Т5–50 % РДФ + 50 % СМ и Т6–50 % СМ. Каждая опытная единица повторялась трижды с размером делянки 2х3 м2. Почва опыта — супесчаная по механическому составу с рН 8,65. Наблюдения регистрировали по высоте растения/см, количеству листьев/растения, сухой массе/растения (г), количеству стручков/растения, количеству семян/стручка, массе 100 семян (г) и урожайности семян кг/га. Все параметры роста были зарегистрированы значительно выше при применении 75 % RDF + 50 % SM (T4) по сравнению с T1 и T6. Но это не было значительным при применении 100 % RDF и 100 % SM на всех стадиях роста культуры. Урожайность признаков также была значительно выше в Т4, чем в Т1, Т2 и Т6. Однако это не было значимым для Т2 и Т3. Задачи эксперимента состояли в том, чтобы сравнить влияние различных уровней навоза, DAP и выяснить их подходящую комбинацию на рост и урожайность сои.

Ключевые слова: соя, овечий навоз, удобрения, комбинация, рост, развития, посевной материал, урожайность и почва.

It’s a fact that the world population is increasing, while the land area for agriculture use is limited. Therefore, the increase in crop production per area is very important [13]. As for increasing the food demand of our country, farmers will need to increase crop production either by increasing the amount of agriculture land to grow crops of by enhancing on existing agricultural lands through fertilization, irrigation and adopting new methods.

Soybean is a versatile crop of the world due to excellent nutritional quality, as it stands surrogate for nutritional security for a large section of vegetarian people being a leguminous crop rich in high quality protein (40–42 %), carbohydrate (32 %), oil (18–20 %) and other nutrients like calcium, iron and glycine [16]. Soybean is a new crop in Afghanistan, it was first introduced in 1971 by U. S. A [1]. Recently the interest in soybean has been increased, and research work on soybean has been reactivated, this was due to increasing demand for soybean as industrial crop in Afghanistan. The agro climatic conditions prevailing in Afghanistan are highly favorable for soybean cultivation. But now Afghan farmers are producing and propagating soybean themselves. Afghanistan’s government hopes soybean crop could be a good alternative to poppy cultivation [6]. In Afghanistan, soybean is used in infant foods to prevent or control protein malnutrition and also used to enrich various traditional foods such as bread, milk, sweets, etc. Afghanistan has a great potentiality to increase the productivity of soybean; however, it is a very low of (2.7 t/ha) and low quality at present [12].

According to statistics from the International Institute for Nutrition and Training (IINT) in 2016, about 3,366.18 hectares of land were cultivated by Afghan farmers in soybean. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), is determined to promote soybean as the second crop after wheat. In order to improve food security and development the local economy in rural communities, its production in whole country is said around 6000t/year [9].

Inherent poor and declining soil fertility, soil alkali, low amount of organic matter, high pH, presence of soil degradation problem, different soil structure, poor soil texture, poor management practices, low agricultural input use and high amount of calcium carbonate are the major causes of low yield [3].

Improving soybean production with intensification can be done with the optimization application of fertilizer, especially inorganic fertilizer [19]. Therefore, NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) have great effects of the plant growth and development, their deficiencies or excesses result in marked effects on the growth and yield of crop, for that, there are these important elements short explained. N is a chlorophyll component, it promotes vegetative growth and green coloration of foliage [18]. Soybean may obtain a large part of its N requirement by establishing N ₂ fixing symbioses with rhizobia [5]. P plays a major role in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage, cell division and maturation [8]. So, soybean require a higher amount of P from external application resources such as Di ammonium phosphate (DAP) for its optimum production. DAP fertilizer an excellent source of P and N for plant nutrition. It is highly soluble and thus dissolves quickly in soil release plant available phosphate and ammonium. DAP is the world’s most widely used P fertilization, it is made from tow common constituents in the fertilizer industry and it is popular because of its relatively high nutrient content and its excellent physical properties. K is important in plant metabolism, protein synthesis, and chlorophyll development [18]. Fortunately, soils in Afghanistan generally contain sufficient K [2].

The continuous use of a high level of chemical fertilizers has led to the problem of soil degradation, which is detrimental to crop production. So, we need a balanced fertilization for crop production. But the combined application of manure may reduce the need for chemical fertilizer, allowing the small farmers to save a part of the cost of production [7]. At the same time, unfortunately, commercial inorganic fertilizers are expensive and out of reach of most small scale farmers. As a result, cheaper source of inorganic fertilizers needs to be sought if yields are to be sustained to attain food security.

The use of organic inputs as external nutritional sources has been advocated as a logical alternative to expensive fertilizers in Afghanistan. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt improved technologies in order to increase per capita agriculture production. One of the approaches is the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), which combines the use of organic inputs with chemical fertilizer and better crop management.

Here we used sheep manure as organic fertilizer. Sheep manure is incredibly versatile animal manure. The benefits of sheep manure; Natural slow release fertilizer, it can be used as an organic mulch, easy to handle, relatively inexpensive, fairly easy to obtain and most providers usually offer door-side delivery, lower in N than other manures yet still high in P and K, depending on the source can be obtained weed free and looks great [14]. This would further emphasize the need to use organic manures alone or in conjunction with chemical fertilization to maintain soil fertilizer for sustainable crop production. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effects of applying sheep manure, DAP fertilizer and their combination on the growth and yield of soybean under the climatic conditions of Kabul.

Materials and methods

Materials

Application of sheep manure (10t/ha) and DAP fertilizer (100kg/ha), were applied at the time of sowing. The soybean seeds of variety LD 04–13265 USD was obtained from Nutrition Educational International (NEI). A seed rate of 100 kg/ha was used [8].

Site description and soil analysis

The research was conducted during 2018 in field conditions, at the research farm of agricultural faculty, Kabul University. Kabul is the center of Afghanistan, its semi aired climate, located between latitude 34 ^° 31 ^′ north and longitude 69 ^° 12 ^′ east, at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level, which makes it one of the world’s highest capital cities. Average annual precipitation is 312 mm per year [5]. Soil sampling was done by taking the topsoil with a depth of (0–20 cm). The zigzag method was used in the sampling procedure. This was done by dividing the land into three equal portions. The soil portions from one site were mixed to come up with a composite representative sample. Then the collected sample was sent for analysis to the soil laboratory of (MAIL), (Table, 1). The sampled sites of the soils had no history of soybean.

Table 1

Soil analysis before planting- 2021

Ph	EC	P 2 O 5	N %	K ppm	Na pp.	OM	Cac 3	S mgr./kg	Clay	silt	Sand	Soil class
8.95	0.246	137	137.9	116	114	0.730	25.5	10.99	20.24	26	53.76	Sandy loam

[Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Afghanistan, 2021]

Experimental treatment and design

This research included six treatments; Control (without fertilizer), 100 % SM, 100 %RDF, 75 % RDF + 50 % SM, 50 % RDF + 50 % SM and 50 % SM, used Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with three replication and each block was again divided into six equal sized plots measuring 2m x 3m to accommodate the treatments. The parameters for the study were plant height (cm), number of leaves/plant, dry weight (gr), number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, the weight of 100 seed (gr) and seed yield kg/ha. The growth parameters assessed on 30, 90 and 120 (DAS) and the yield parameters assessed on the soybean harvest. The treatments were randomly allocated within the plots of a block and also small bunds were raised around each plot.

Methods of cultivation

Sowing was done on 02. 06. 2021 by opening small furrow with the help of marker at a distance of 40 cm between row and 20 cm between plants. Seeds were sown 3–5 cm deep and were covered with soil. The land had optimum moisture during the sowing. Each plot had four lines.

Methods of collecting data and statistical analysis

Ten plants were selected randomly from the central lines of each plot (1m ² ) by using random numbers. Then the selected plants were marked and all observations recorded for plants. Harvesting of experimental crops was done at maturity time. Data collected on different parameters were subjected to ANOVA using the KyPlot software. ANOVA reviewed significant differences among treatment means and for least significant differences the Fisher’s LSD was used.

Result and discussion

The data in table 2 revealed that application of T4 produced taller plant height (78.9 cm) among the treatments following by T2 (79.9 cm) and T3 (76 cm). However, T1 (68 cm) and T6 (66.7 cm) respectively recorded significantly lowest plant height as compared with treatments T2, T3 and T4. These findings are in accordance with the results of Petal (2010) who had conducted a field experiment to study the Effects of Integrated Nutrient Management on the Growth, Yield and Economic of Soybean, and reported that the application of 125 % RDF + FYM 5t/ha recorded highest plant height (60 cm), at 60 DAS and dry matter/plant (18.1 g).

The analyzed data showed that the application of T4, produced the maximum number of leaves (135) among the treatments, which was statistically similar with T2 (134), T3 (134.3) and T6 (133.3) (Table. 2), but it’s significantly higher than the other treatments. However, T1, (117) and T5 (111.7), recorded significantly the lowest number of leaves as compared with T2, T3 and T4. Similar results were showed by Yeboah, (2016) who had conducted an experiment and reported that the number of leaves was enhanced by the application of 40 kg/ha inorganic fertilizer + FYM 5t/ha.

Combination organic and inorganic fertilizers [T4 (76.2 gr)] produced higher dry weight among the treatments (Table. 2), which was found to be par with T2 (74.3 gr), T3 (73.5 gr), and T5 (69.9 gr), but it’s significantly (P ≥ 0.05) higher than the T1 (50 gr) and T6 (43.5 gr). Similar results showed by Nagar, (2014) he studied the Influence of INM on the Growth and Yield of Soybean at the department of agronomy, Allahabad school of agriculture, and reported that application of FYM 5t/ha + inorganic fertilizer 80 kg/ha recorded highest dry weight (41.33 gr).

Table 2

Effects of DAP and sheep manure on the growth parameters of soybean.2021

Treatment	Plant height (cm)	Number of Leave/ plant	Dry weight (gr)/ plant
Control	68.0 bc	117.0 b	50.0 b
100 % SM	75.9 ab	134.0 a	74.3 a
100 % RDF	76.0 ab	134.3 a	73.5 a
75 % RDF + 50 % SM	78.9 a	135.0 a	76.2 a
50 % RDF + 50 % SM	68.7 b	111.7 bc	69.9 ab
50 % SM	66.7 bc	133.3 ab	43.5 bc
F-test	*	*	*
LSD (5)	7.7	17	21
CV	5.7	7	18

Means in a column fallowed by same letters are not significantly different at P = 0.05, SM = sheep manure, RDF = Recommended Dose of Fertilizer, LSD = least significant difference, CV = coefficient of variation.

The data in table 3 showed that the highest average number of pods was recorded with the application of T4 (71), it’s similar with T2 (68.7) and T3 (68.4). While, T1 (43.7) and T6 (45.7) recorded significantly the lowest number of pods as compared with the application of T2, T3 and T4. These findings are similar by Maheshbabu, (2008) who reported that the application of 40. 80. 25 kg NPK/ha + FYM 5t/ha, had significantly higher number of pods per plant (39.67) compared to control.

The number of seeds/pod is an important yield indices of soybean that the maximum number of seeds per pod was recorded with the application of T2 (3 grain), and the lowest number of grain was recorded by the T6 (2.6 grain) that there was no significant effects of the number of grains between treatments (Table.3). However, an experimental was conducted by Maheshbabu, (2008) reported that the application of 40. 80. 25 kg NPK + FYM 5t/ha, had a significantly higher number of grains per pod (2.51).

According to the data in table 3 showed that the highest weight of 100 grain was recorded with the application of T4 (15.5 gr) followed by T2 (15.3 gr), T3 (14.3 gr) and T5 (12.3 gr). Although, T1 (9.6 gr) and T6 (11.3 gr) recorded significantly the lowest weight of 100 grain as compared with treatments T2 and T4. Similar results showed by Maheshbabu, (2008) reported that the application of FYM 5t/ha + inorganic fertilizer recorded significantly the highest weight of 100 grain (12.11 gr).

The highest yield production was on combination sheep manure and DAP fertilizer at the doses of 75 kg DAP/ha and sheep manure 5t/ha [T4 (2,386 kg)], which was statistically similar with T2 (2,279 kg) and T3 (2,222.3 kg). although, T5 (1,838.3 kg) produced significantly lowest yield as compared with T4, but T1 (1,678 kg) and T6 (1,681 kg) recorded significantly lowest yield as compared with the application of T2, T3 and T4 data presented in table 3. A similar result was reported by Bandyopadhyay, (2003) who conducted a field experiment to Study the Effects of Integrated Use of FYM and Inorganic Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Soybean, and reported that the application of RDF + FYM 5t/ha recorded highest seed yield (1,046.2 kg). Likewise, Maheshbabu, (2008) also reported that the application of RDF (40. 80. 25) with FYM 5t/ha recorded significantly higher seed yield (2,235 kg/ha) and yield components.

Table 3

Effects of DAP and sheep manure on the yield parameters of soybean.2021

Treatment	Number of Pod/plant	Number of Seed/plant	Weight of 100 grain (gr)	Grain yield (kg/ha)
Control	43.7 bc	2.9	9.60 bc	1,678.0 bc
100 % SM	68.7 ab	3.0	15.3 a	2,279.7 ab
100 % RDF	68.4 ab	2.9	14.3 ab	2,222.3 ab
75 % RDF + 50 % SM	71.0 a	2.9	15.5 a	2,386.0 a
50 % RDF + 50 % SM	49.7 b	2.9	12.3 ab	1,838.3 b
50 % SM	45.7 bc	2.6	11.3 b	1,681.0 bc
F-test	*	*	*	*
LSD (5)	21	Ns	4	533.8
CV	20	9.9	17	14.5

Means in a column fallowed by same letters are not significantly different at P = 0.05, SM = sheep manure, RDF = Recommended Dose of Fertilizer, LSD = least significant difference, CV = coefficient of variation, ns = not significant.

Most treatments recorded significantly more plant height as compared to the treatment of control. Particularly, the treatments that have high rates of fertilizer, as alone or combined compared to the treatments to have lowest rates of fertilizer. Similarly, the increase number of leaves and dry weight with INM were mainly due to its influence on vegetative crop growth. This may be owing to the continuous availability of nutrients to soybean plants because of their slow release of nutrients from SM during the crop season. Moreover, DAP added a good amount of N, P and K in the soil.

In general, it was observed that organic manure alone had no significant effect on the yield and yield components over 100 % RDF. But the integration of organic manure with chemical fertilizer had a significant impact on the yield and yield components compared to control. This might be attributed to the rapid mineralization of N and P from DAP and a steady supply of N from manure, which might have met the N and P requirements of the crop at critical stages. So, by increasing dosage of sheep manure also increased vegetative growth, yield components and yield of soybean, because manure is a source of nutrients, which are releases through mineralization, improved quality of soil, it easy to be decomposed, so the nutrients can be absorbed by plant quickly and when combined with P fertilizer it increased nutrient supply which enhanced vegetative growth, affecting plant height, yield components, and seed yield because, effects of P nutrition on the growth and productivity performance of legume oilseeds is due to nutrients in plants [photosynthesis regulation, root and shoot growth, nitrogen fixation, partitioning of photosynthesis, a constituent of the plasma membrane, nucleic acids, many coenzymes, organic molecules like ADP (adenosine triphosphate) and other phosphorylated products; quality parameters and etc.]. [16], [15] and [17].Therefore, application of a combination of sheep manure with DAP fertilizer significantly increased yield production of soybean (number of pods, seeds per pod, the weight of 100 grains and yield), this means that both organic and inorganic fertilizers can provides plants with essential nutrients elements required for the growth and yield.

Conclusion

From the result of this study, it can be concluded that the application of T4 (75 % RDF as inorganic fertilizer combined with the application of 50 % SM as organic fertilizer), enhanced the growth parameters [plant height (cm), number of leaves/plant and dry weight/plant (g)] and yield attributes (number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, the weight of 100 seed (g) and highest seed yield kg/ha). It closely followed by single treatment of T2 (100 % RDF) and T3 (100 % SM) respectively.

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