Nitrogen management in Soybean: A Review

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max) is a leguminous crop grown worldwide for its dual qualities viz. high protein and oil content. It contains about 40-42% protein and 20-22% oil and is one of the major cash crop of rainy season.The plant growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter accumulation of soybean increased with application of nitrogen from 30-80 kg N ha-1. Nodule number and nodule dry weight increased with application of 40 kg N ha-1and decreased afterwards whereas, yield and yield attributes of soybean increased with the application of nitrogen upto 100 kg ha-1. Application of nitrogen from 40-80 kg N ha-1as basal dose resulted in increase in protein content. The split application of nitrogen as basal and at reproductive stages also resulted in increase in protein content. However, oil content decreased with increasing level of nitrogen. The oil content increased with application of nitrogen upto 40 kg N ha-1. Application of nitrogen also improved soil properties like organic carbon, available NPK and saturated hydraulic conductivity.