Comparative growth and yield responses of improved and local varieties of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in Lafia, Nasarawa State

Abstract

Soybean is native to Eastern Asia, mainly China, Korea and Japan, from where it spread to Europe and America and other parts of the world in the 18^th century. Soybean was first introduced to Africa in the early 19^th century, through Southern Africa and is now widespread across the continent. Soybean was first introduced to Nigeria in 1908. Soy bean has many nutritional benefits for man and livestock, as well as other industrial and commercial uses. The present study was aimed at comparing the growth and yield responses of both local and improved varieties of soya beans (Glycine max) in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Three improved varieties, T.G.S1448, T.G.S1449, and C.D.S 1448 and two local varieties of soybean, Mai Farin (MF) and Bakin Hanci (BH) were obtained from the Nasarawa Agricultural Development program (NADP). At 11 WAP, results revealed that TGS1449 recorded the highest plant height (65.00 cm), which differed significantly from TGS1448 (48.00 cm), CDS1448 (50.00 cm), and MF (50.33 cm) (P≤0.05). The MF variety recorded the highest number of leaves (52.67), which differed significantly from TGS1448 (43.67), and CDS1448 (46.33). Number of flowers was highest in TGS1449 (7.33), which differed significantly from the four other investigated varieties.