Study of the Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Four Soybean (Glycine max L.) Cultivars under Different Sowing Dates in Shahrekord Region

To study the effect of sowing date on quantitave and qualitative traits of soybean in Shahrekord region, an experiment was performed as split plot based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre of Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari, Shahrekord, in 2008. Four sowing dates (May 5, May 20, June 4 and June 19) and four varieties (M9, M7, L17 and Williams) were selected as main and sub plots, respectively. Results showed that maximum number of pods per plant, seeds per plant and biological yield were observed for M9 cultivar at 20 May sowing date. This sowing date had also the highest seed weight, oil percent and biological yield comared to other dates. The maximum protein percent was observed in June 4 (37.6%) and June 19 (38.4%) sowing dates. There was no significant difference between cultivars for oil and protein percent. There was no significant difference between three planting dates of May 5, May 20 and June 4 for seed yield. But minimum seed yield belonged to June 19 sowing date. In general, the M9 cultivar, with 2896.1 kg/ha seed yield, and then M7 cultivar with 2597.7 kg/ha seed yield, are recommendable as suitable soybean cultivars for cultivation in Shahrekord region.