Research Article Open Access

Correlations between Growth and Yield Parameters of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under the Influence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in Kipushi (The Democratic Republic of Congo)

Ben Tshibuyi Kasu-Bandi1, Laurent Kidinda Kidinda2, Germain Nyembo Kasendue3, Louis Baboy Longanza4, Kasongo Lenge Emery5 and Antoine Kanyenga Lubobo6
  • 1 National Institute for Agricultural Research and Study (INERA), Kipopo Station, P.O Box 224; Lubumbashi, DR, Congo
  • 2 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR, Congo
  • 3 Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Kinshasa, P.O Box 117, Kinshasa XI, DR, Congo
  • 4 Scientic Collaborator at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Inter-Faculty School of Bioengineers, Landscape Ecology Service and Crop Production Systems, P.O Box 1050 Brussels, Belgium
  • 5 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DR , Congo
  • 6 International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Harvest Plus, DR, Congo

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the correlations between different agronomic parameters and their contribution to soybean performance under Bradyrhizobium japonicum influence. The experiment was carried out at Kanyameshi (Kipushi), following a Split Plot design, with three strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (GraphExTM, Bradyrhizobium sp and Sojapak ® 50) and four soybean varieties (TGX 1740-7F: V1, PAN 1867: V2, TGX 1880-3E: V3 and LUKANGA: V4). The strongest correlations were obtained between fresh biomass and plant height, the number of stems and collar diameter, fresh biomass and collar diameter, number of stems and plant height, number of roots and number of stems, fresh biomass and number of roots, number of pods and number of leaves. The collar diameter is the most positively correlated parameter with both growth and soybean yield parameters. While lifting rate, collar diameter, plant height, number of stems, number of leaves, fresh biomass, number of nodules and number of pods are the most linked to soybean grain yield. A significant negative correlation was observed between number of leaves and the weight of 100g. Fresh biomass was found to be more predictable, whereas number of leaves is the growth parameter that contributes most to soybean fresh biomass. Based on their decreasing contribution to fresh biomass, the various parameters can be classified as follows: number of leaves>number of root>plant height> collar diameter. Among examined agronomic parameters, only four contribute directly to the soybean yield, namely number of leaves, number of pods, fresh biomass and collar diameter. By applying Bradyrhizobium japonicum to the four soybean varieties, the correlations between observed parameters were enhanced. This study is a major contribution in the conduct of soybean cultivation as it identified the parameters on which the farmer should focus to maximize soybean grain yield.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 14 No. 1, 2019, 86-94

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2019.86.94

Submitted On: 1 December 2018 Published On: 17 August 2019

How to Cite: Kasu-Bandi, B. T., Kidinda, L. K., Kasendue, G. N., Longanza, L. B., Emery, K. L. & Lubobo, A. K. (2019). Correlations between Growth and Yield Parameters of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under the Influence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in Kipushi (The Democratic Republic of Congo). American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 14(1), 86-94. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2019.86.94

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Keywords

  • Agronomic Parameters
  • Soybean Yield
  • Correlations