Effect of Foliar Application of Thiourea on the Growth, Yield and Economics of Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif (June–October), 2020 at the MARS, UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka, India to study the influence of thiourea as foliar spray on soybean under the Northern Transition Zone of Karnataka under rainfed condition.  The treatments were laid out in FRCBD with factorial concept with three replications. The treatments consisted of two factors, viz., soybean varieties and different thiourea levels with a single control. Sowing of different soybean varieties was not found significant on any of the parameters studied. Among different thiourea levels foliar application of thiourea at 750 ppm at 20–25 DAS and at 50–55 DAS recorded significantly higher plant height, number of branches plan^-1, leaf area index, total dry matter production, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, number of pods plant^-1, seed yield plot^-1, test weight, protein content, protein yield, nutrient uptakes (N, P and K), haulm yield (4192 kg ha^-1), seed yield (2582 kg ha^-1), gross return (` 94,551 ha<sup>-1</sup>), net return (` 56,386 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.48) it was found on par with foliar application of thiourea at 500 ppm at 20–25 DAS and at 50–55 DAS and there was 44% increase in seed yield compared to control. Among the different interaction effect where thiourea has been sprayed at 750 ppm and 500 ppm on three different varieties at 20–25 DAS and at 50–55 DAS had recoded significantly higher productivity and economics returns of soybean.