SOYBEAN (Glycine max. (L.) Merrill) VEGETATIVE GROWTH PERFORMANCE UNDER CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC MANURES NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Optimization of fertilizers sources and doses occupies pivotal position for triggering crops growth along with reducing a halt to environmental pollution caused by excessive use of mineral fertilizers. This field research was conducted to determine the effect of chemical and organic fertilizers on vital vegetative growth parameters including leaf area index and chlorophyll content of soybean (cv. Nova).Treatments included four different sources of fertilizers manures from sheep and cattle barns, liquid manure from cattle barn, chemical fertilizers and a control treatment was kept for comparison purpose. The chlorophyll contents of plants at different growing stages Beginning bloom (Rl) and Beginning seed (R5) were measured using SPAD-502 and CM 1000 chlorophyll meter. The results indicated that physiological growth parameters including leaf area index and chlorophyll content of soybean differed significantly at stage Rl and R5 growth stages under varying fertilization regimes. The chemical fertilizers remained unmatched for recording the maximum physiological growth, while liquid manure from cattle barn performed superiorly by exhibiting the maximum leaf area index and chlorophyll content. It is recommended to use liquid manure from cattle barn for boosting physiological growth of soybean and these research findings also necessitate evaluation of different doses of liquid cattle manure to sort out the best performing dose for soybean production under changing climate.