Sowing in crossed rows in soybean cultivars with determinate growth habit

Abstract

Increases in the soybean grain yield without significant alterations in the production cost can be achieved with variations in the spatial plant arrangement. The sowing in crossed rows has aroused the interest of Brazilian soybean producers once this practice was used in some areas with record-breaking soybean yield in Brazil in 2010/11 and 2011/12 growing seasons. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of soybean cultivars with determinate growth habit managed under different spatial plant arrangements, including crossed rows. The experiments were carried out in Londrina, PR, at 2011/12 and 2012/13 growing seasons. A randomized complete block experimental design in a 2x2x2 factorial scheme was used, with three replications. The treatments were formed by combining two row spacing (0.4 and 0.6 m), two seeding rates (375,000 and 562,500 seeds ha-1) and two sowing systems (crossed or parallel rows).The cultivar BRS 294 RR was used in 2011/12 and BRS 295 RR in 2012/13 growing season. In both cultivars and years the grain yield was not affected by the sowing system, seeding rate, or by the interactions among factors, showing the high soybean phenotypic plasticity. Row spacing of 0.6 m showed the highest soybean grain yield in BRS 294 RR, mainly due to a higher grain production in the branches.