SEED YIELD AND QUALITY OF Macroptilium lathyroides (L.). URB. AS AFFECTED BY ROW SPACING AND HARVESTING DATES

To evaluate the effects of row spacing and harvesting dates on seed yield and quality of Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb. four row spacing (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm, and 60 cm) and eight harvesting dates at seven day interval were compared. First harvest was made when first ripe legumes appeared and the last, 49 days after. For the same sowing density, the increasing of row spacing did not affect seed yield but resulted in better seed quality. The harvest date that resulted in the highest seed yield with maximum quality occurred near the fifteenth day after appearance of first ripe legumes. KEY-WORDS: Forage; tropical legume; sowing.