To obtain the basic information necessary for the development of soybean varieties well adaptable to upland-paddy field rotational croppings, the difference of growth characteristics between upland and paddy-field including yield potentials of current recommending soybean varieties were evaluated.
The growth characteristics, both above and under-ground, which were measured at flowering stage were generally greater in paddy-field but the number of root nodules was much greater in upland, thus the artificial inoculation was practically recommended for soybean growing in paddy-fields.
Mean seed yield was generally higher in paddy-fields than in upland. All soybean varieties showed higher seed yield in the early planting date, April 20, were somewhat susceptible to soybean mosaic virus(SMV), thus they could be escaped from the disasterous endemic necrotic soybean mosaic virus (SMV-N). Soybean varieties showed over 4.0 tons /ha seed yield in the paddy-field were Williams 79, Union, SS77053, and Namhaekong. At the same time, Jangyeobkong and Danyeobkong were the most stable soybean varieties among the tested soybean varieties with less than 10% of coefficient variation values in all planting dates in paddy fields.
Compared with Hwangkeumkong which is most widely being cultivated on farmer’s fields, soybean varieties showed high yields in paddy-field were higher in plant height, less in the number of branches, and more in the number of nodes on main stem. At the same time, they had medium seed size which would bring the good germination and stands. Disease resistance especially for necrotic soybean mosaic virus was also one of the most decisive factors in seed yields for the early planted soybeans.