Effect of row spacing, seeding rate and nitrogen fertilization on yield and yield components of soybean

Soybean crop management have not been studied much in Central Europe as compared with cereals. We assessed the effect of variety, row spacing, seeding rate and nitrogen (N) fertilization on yields and yield components of soybean in a two-year experiment in Gleisdorf, Austria. The varieties Lenka, Naya and Xonia were tested in row spacings of 13 cm, 38 cm and 76 cm with 30 germinable seeds m⁻². Additionally, 60 seeds m⁻² were tested at 13 cm row spacing, and 38 cm row spacing was additionally established with N fertilization. Faster soil coverage was obtained with a high seeding rate or narrower row spacings. First pod height differed between varieties and increased with higher seeding rate. Grain yield was not affected by treatments but yield components differed. The widest row spacing resulted in a lower plant density but more pods plant⁻¹, grains plant⁻¹, grains pod⁻¹ (in one year) and a higher thousand kernel weight (TKW). The higher seeding rate resulted in a higher plant density but less pods plant⁻¹ whereas grains pod⁻¹ and TKW did not differ. N fertilization did not affect the grain yield. Correlation analysis showed a high adaptability of soybean to different seeding rates and row spacings through modulation of yield components.