[Foliar fertilizer on four soybean varieties]

The effectiveness of soil fertilizer application on soybean is often low. Foliar feeding is another alternative to be studied. Two experiments were carried out at Citayam experimental farm in West Java during July 1988-October 1988 (late dry season) and March 1989-June 1989 (dry season) to study foliar feeding on soybean. The experiments were arranged in split-plot design with 3 replications. During dry season 1988 the main plots were Tidar and Merbabu varieties. The subplots were Urea 50 g/1 (5 percent), Urea 100 g/1 (10 percent). Gandasil D and B 2 g/1, Gandasil D and B 4g/1, Mastofol Tristar 1 ml/l. Mastofol Tristar 4 ml/l, Sitosim 2,5 mll1, Sitosim 4 ml/l and control. During dry season 1989, the main plots were Ringgit and Kerinci varieties. The sub plot were Urea 50 g/1 (5 percent), Urea 30 g/1 (3 percent). Gandasil D and B 4 g/1, Gandasil D and B 6 g/1. Mastofol Tristar 1 ml/l, Mastofol Tristar 4 ml/l, Sitosim 4 ml/l, Sitosim 6 ml/l and control. The rates of basal fertilizer application were equivalent to 25 kg Urea, 100 kg TSP and 50 kg KCl/ha. Plot size was 4 m x 5 m with 40 cm x 12,5 cm plant spacing. The results showed that foliar application of 50 g Urea/1 (5 percent) increased dry weight of root, number of seeds and yield of Tidar variety by 15 percent. The application of Gandasil B and D 4 g/1 increased leaf area index, dry weight of nodules, dry weight of root and yield by 12 percent for Merbabu, 17 percent for Ringgit and 9 percent for Kerinci. Application of Mastofol Tristar 1 ml/l and 4 ml/l increased leaf area index, dry weight of nodules, dry weight of seeds (13 percent) and yield of Kerinci. Sitosim application 4 ml/l and 6 ml/l increased leaf area index, dry weight of nodules, dry weight of seeds (17 percent) and yield of Kerinci (12 percent). Kerinci variety was more responsive to foliar fertilizer application than Merbabu, Tidar and Ringgit varieties. Nutrient contents of Tidar and Kerinci varieties were higher than Merbabu and Ringgit varieties. Nitrogen uptake of Kerinci was highest.