SOYBEAN GERMPLASM SHOWS VARIATION IN FARMERS PARTICIPATORY TRIAL IN THE COASTAL REGION OF BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT: The cultivation of soybean is still concentrated in the coastal region of greater Noakhali District of Bangladesh, where salinity hinders crop production. There is no suitable salt tolerant variety so far. At Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman  Agricultural University,  170 soybean genotypes  were screened and finally  three,namely AGS313 (BU soybean-3), G00028 (BU soybean-4), and BD2330 were found fairly salt tolerant at 5 and 10 dSm-1 salinity. In Rabi 2022-23  season the selected three genotypes, G00056 as a high yielding promising genotype, and three varieties namely BU  soybean-2, BARI  soybean-6 and Binasoybean-2, i.e. altogether seven genotypes were grown in 700 decimals land, both saline and non-saline soils, of 12 farmers  in different upazillasof  Noakhali, Laksmipur and Bhola districts. The seeds were sown by the  last week of January’ 23.  Salinity of the fields at  harvestwas  found 5- 13 dSm-1, thoughinitially varied from 0 – 4 dSm-1. Yield contributing characters  were measured appropriately.  Standard error was used for showing the mean differences. Farmers’ discussion on the performance of the genotypes were held from time to  time. Salinity decreasedplant height, maturityduration, number of pods plant-1, 1000-seed weight and grain yield ha-1. However, AGS313 and  G00028 were affected less than other genotypes. Under non-saline and low saline conditions relatively higher yield was found in BU soybean2  (2657 kg ha-1 in Bhola, 3397 kgha-1 in Subornachar), G00056 (2341 in Laksmipur sadar, 3390 kg ha-1 in Subornachar), AGS313 (2612 in Ramgoti, 3266 kg ha-1 in Subornachar) and G00028 (2464 in Bhola sadar, 3374 kg ha-1 in Subornachar) compared to other genotypes. The lowest yield was found in BARI soybean6 (1715 kg ha-1 in Ramgoti) followed by Binaoybean-2 (1868 kg ha-1 in Laksmipur sadar). However, under saline field conditions (5- 8 dSm-1) G00028 (866 kg ha-1 in Komolnagar, 1374 kg/ha in Subornachar) and AGS313 (860 kg ha-1in Ramgoti, 1333 kg ha-1 in Subornachar) produced substantially higher yield than other genotypes/ varieties. The lowest yield was obtained from G00056 (170 kg ha-1) from Komolnagar. Based on the results of multi-location trials, and discussions with the farmers the genotypes AGS313 and G00028 were registered as BU soybean-3and BU soybean-4, respectively as relatively salt tolerant varieties from the National Seed Board.

Keywords: Glycine max, salinity, variety, yield