Screening the Soybean Varietal Lines for Selecting High-Yielding and Better Agronomic Traits Producing lines

Soybean (Glycine max), an economically significant legume originating from East Asia, serves as a valuable source of protein and oil globally. In Pakistan, soybean is considered a non-conventional oilseed crop, with successful cultivation possible during both the spring and summer seasons. The careful selection of appropriate varieties is a primary concern for soybean growers in the country. Therefore, experiments were conducted utilizing the newly developed varietal line in the agroecological zone of Tandojam to select the most suitable and adaptable varieties. A total of forty-six newly developed varietal lines, which have not yet been released, were evaluated alongside four released varieties (Ajmeri, Faisal, Jack, and Rawal) that are already being cultivated in various regions of the country. The field experiments were carried out at the experimental area of the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) in Tando Jam during the spring and summer seasons of 2018. Agronomic traits were recorded for each variety, and weather data were obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department. All agricultural practices were followed. The results indicate significant variations among the genotypes for all evaluated characteristics. Based on grain production, NIBGE32 exhibited the highest performance, achieving a notable yield of 22g during the summer season, which was 30% higher than the yield of the top-performing control variety, Faisal. Other newly developed varietal lines, namely NIBGE 18, NIBGE 8, NIBGE 45, and NIBGE 41, also demonstrated promising high-yield potential. These varieties displayed comparatively superior growth and yield outcomes. Germination percentage significantly vary in the spring and summer season (Mann-Whitney U =7925, P<0.01); whereas days to maturity, plant height, leaf area, lowest pod height, 100-grain weight, biological yield, seed weight per plant, were not significantly different in two seasons. This suggests a potential for these varietal lines to be cultivated in both seasons. This research endeavours to offer valuable insights and recommendations to farmers and policymakers, aiming to augment soybean production and advance agricultural sustainability in the region of Sindh.