The effect of germination speed on the development and seed yield of soybean [Glyclne max(L.) Merr.] plants was investigated. Seedlings from graded ‘Clark’ soybean seeds were geminated in individual turf pots and grouped according to speed of germination. The pots of each group were planted in separate lots in greenhouse and field experiments.In both experiments, foliage development, dry matter accumulation, and seed yield of the rapidly germinating plants exceeded those of the slowly germinating plants. In the field experiment, the average seed yield of the plots planted with seedlings germinating 4 and 5 days after sowing exceeded the yield of the plots planted with seedlings germinating 6, 7, and 8 days after sowing by 22%. Through tests of the progenies of the different groups it was ascertained that the differences in the speed of germination were not heritable.
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