Effect of Planting Date and Planting Density on Growth and Yield of Soybean in Cheju Island

Two determinate soybean cultivars, 'Baegunkong' and 'Namhaekong', were planted on 8 Jone, 23 June, and 8 July 1996 at Cheju at planting densities of 33, 43, 53, 63 plants per $m^2$ to determine the optimum planting density of double crop soybean for recently recommended cultivars in Cheju area at various planting dates. The plant height, and the diameter and node number of main stems decreased as planting was delayed. The plant height increased but the stem diameter and node number decreased with increasing planting density. Pod number per plant was greater for Namhaekong than for Baegunkong and was not affected by planting date. Pod number per plant decreased but pod numbers per $\textrm{m}^2$ increased with increasing planting density. The number of seeds per pod was greater at the two later plantings and fewer at the highest planting density. 100-seed weight decreased with delaying planting. The seed weight was lighter at the highest planting density for Baegunkong but there was no difference for Namhaekong among the planting densities. The seed yield of Baegunkong was greater for 23 June and 8 July plantings (2,280 and 2,420 kg/ha) than for 8 June planting (1,450 kg/ha) while that of Namhaekong was greatest at 23 June planting (2,690 kg/ha) compared with 8 June and 8 July plantings (1,890 and 2,080 kg/ha). Across the planting dates and cultivars, seed yield increased from 1,860 to 2,290kg/ha as the planting density increased from 33 to 53 plants/$\textrm{m}^2$ and then leveled off with a further increase in planting density.