SOME EFFECTS OF PLANTING PATTERN ON YIELD, PER CENT OIL AND PER CENT PROTEIN IN MANDARIN (OTTAWA) SOYBEANS

Abstract

The performance of Mandarin (Ottawa) soybeans was tested over a 4-year period in fifteen planting patterns resulting from five row spacings (7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 inches) and three plant spacings (1, 2, and 3 inches) within the row. Response of yield and oil percentage to spacing was considerable. The combination of narrowest row and widest plant spacing within the row (7 × 3) gave the highest yield, whereas highest per cent oil was obtained from the widest row and the widest plant spacing (35 × 3). One year of testing of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-inch plant spacings in 7-inch rows suggested that the differential response of oil and yield might be reconciled to the best advantage in a 7 × 4 pattern.Protein showed less response to spacing. It was highest at the closest spacing. The only significant difference occurred between the 1- and 3-inch spacings within the row, over all row spacings. Iodine number did not respond to spacing.