Influence of Nitrogen Enrichment during Reproductive Growth Stage on Leaf Nitrogen Accumulation and Seed Yield in Soybean

AbstractNitrogen assimilation during seed filling limits the seed yield in soybean. Seed nitrogen dependence on either redistributed nitrogen or absorbed nitrogen from soil during seed filling shows varietal differences. The objective of this study was to investigate the timing of nitrogen enrichment for effective nitrogen assimilation. Two soybean cultivars Sachiyutaka and Tamahomare were sown in the pots filled with well-washed fine sand. The plants were well watered with nutrient solution containing 100 ppm nitrogen and other nutrient elements before and after the treatment. The treatments were conducted from reproductive stage R1 to R5 or from R5 to R7 by applying the nutrient solution with different nitrogen concentrations. The high nitrogen concentration from R1 to R5 delayed the decline in SPAD value and leaf nitrogen concentration and improved the seed yield performance in Sachiyutaka, whereas stimulated the decline in SPAD value and leaf nitrogen concentration and had no effect on seed yield in T...