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SOYBEAN

Path Analyses of Population Density Effects on Short-Season Soybean Yield

^a Dep. of Plant Sciences, 51 Campus Drive, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada
^b Agric. Statistics Lab., Agriculture Annex 101, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704
^c Dep. of Biological and Agric. Eng., Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704 and Northeast Res. and Ext. Center, P.O. Box 48, Keiser, AR 72351
^d Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environ. Sciences, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704 and Northeast Res. and Ext. Center, P.O. Box 48, Keiser, AR 72351
^e Dep. of Crop, Soil, and Environ. Sciences, 1366 W. Altheimer Dr., Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704

Corresponding author (lpurcell{at}uark.edu)

Yield component analysis provides a framework for identifying potentially useful traits for yield improvement. Consideration of how population density affects other yield components has not been addressed specifically for short-season soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. We assessed the direct and indirect contributions of population density for short-season soybean yield and its components over a wide range of population densities (6–134 plants m^-2) using path-coefficient analysis. Data were from field tests conducted in 1997, 1998, and 1999 at Keiser, AR. Although population density had a large inverse association with pods plant^-1, the large direct effect of population density on yield was greater than its negative indirect effect via pods plant^-1. The direct effects of pod number plant^-1 and seeds pod^-1 on yield were positive, whereas mass seed^-1 had a negligible effect. Pods fertile-node^-1 differed between cultivars, and it was reduced by increasing population density. For early sowing, the contribution of population density to yield was less because pods m^-2 could be achieved at low population densities by a large number of fertile-nodes plant^-1 and pods fertile-node^-1. In contrast, at late sowing, the decreased potential for fertile-nodes plant^-1 was compensated by increasing plant population density. In short seasons, maximizing nodes m^-2 and pods m^-2 can be achieved by high population densities and early canopy closure, rather than the conventional system of larger plants with greater numbers of pods plant^-1 and pods fertile-node^-1.

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