HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hoy, D. J. Articles by Gamble, E. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hoy, D. J. Articles by Gamble, E. E. Agricola Articles by Hoy, D. J. Articles by Gamble, E. E.

Field Performance in Soybean with Seeds of Differing Size and Density¹

A 2-yr field experiment was conducted to determine if separation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds by size or density might be effective in improving seedling emergence, speed of emergence, or yield. Eighteen soybean seedlots were separated into four size classes using round—hole screens, and into two density classes by floating low density seeds on sucrose solutions. These seeds were planted in a Typic Hapludalf—grey brown podsolic soil type. Seeds of largest size and seeds of lowest density had the lowest percent emergence and speed of emergence, provided these seeds came from seedlots of intermediate vigor. Seed size and density effects were greater when seeds were subjected to greater field stresses of low temperature and wet or crusted soils. The stand differences due to seed size and density persisted until harvest maturity. If compared to the unseparated control, only the smallest seed size was superior in emergence and speed of emergence, and high density seed did not show any advantage. Seed size had no effect on yield in early or late plantings, but high density seeds outyielded low density seeds in the late plantings. High density seeds did not outyield the unseparated seeds. In general, the effects of seed size and seed density on percent emergence, speed of emergence, and yield indicate that the potential for large scale vigor improvement in soybean seedlots through processing or conditioning is limited.

Key Words: Glycine max (L.) Merr. • Vigor • Emergence • Yield

² Former graduate research assistant (now with Pioneer Hi-Bred, Chatham, Ontario, Canada N7M 5L1); and professor, Dep. of Crop Science, Univ. of Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1.

Received for publication June 14, 1984.