Effects of Shoot and Root Pruning on Growth and Yield of Green Soybean Cultivated in Osaka

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the effects of shoot and root pruning treatments on the yield of green soybean. First, the influences of shoot and root pruning during the nursing period on the yield of green soybean were investigated. The results showed that neither pruning treatment led to better yields than the control. In the next experiment, shoot pruning at the fifth leaf stage led to no difference in yield between the shoot pruning treatment and control (non-shoot pruning). Finally, the influences of root pruning at transplanting on shoot growth and yield were investigated. The results showed that 1/2 root pruning has positive effects on the number of pods and yield compared with the control in the summer season. Heavy root pruning, however, had no effect on the yield. These results suggest that shoot pruning leads to no marked increase in yield, but root pruning at transplanting is effective to improve the productivity of green soybean in the summer cropping season.