Pereira et al. Row spacing in the growth and yield of the soybean’s cultivar 12 Scientific Electronic Archives Issue ID: Sci. Elec. Arch. Vol. 10 (3) June 2017 Article link http://www.seasinop.com.br/revista/index.php?journal=SEA&page=article&op=view&path% 5B%5D=454&path%5B%5D=pdf Included in DOAJ, AGRIS, Latindex, Journal TOCs, CORE, Discoursio Open Science, Science Gate, GFAR, CIARDRING, Academic Journals Database and NTHRYS Technologies, Portal de Periódicos CAPES. Row spacing in the growth and yield of the soybean’s cultivar C. S. Pereira, I. V. Fiorini, W. Delgado, A. Lange Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - Campus Sinop Author for correspondence: caspaziani@yahoo.com.br _____________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract - Row spacing at sowing is a determining factor in the arrangement of plants in the environment, influencing growth and soybean productivity. This study aimed to verify the behavior of three soybean cultivars in three different spacing. The experiment was conducted in a commercial farm in the country of Rondonópolis of Mato Grosso (MT) State. The experimental design was performed in randomized block design, with five replicates in factorial 3x3, three row spacing, 0.35m; 0.45m and 0.50m, keeping a population of 350,000 plants/ha -1 , and three cultivars, BMX Desafio RR, BMX and BMX Ultra IPRO IPRO Bonus of Brasmax® company. We evaluated the number of pods per plant (NPP), number of grains per plant (NGP), plant height (PH), number of reproductive nodes (RN), height of insertion of the first reproductive node (HIR), lodging (L), 1000 grain weight (TGW) and productivity (PROD). In all spacing, cultivar BMX Bonus was higher in PH, NR and TGW. Cultivar BMX Desafio was higher in NPP and TGW. The cultivars responded differently in the spacing, but it did not suffer significant fluctuations in final yield. Plant tipping lodging was observed with reduced spacing. Keywords: Glycine Max; Soybean Crop; Sowed spacing; Management practices ______________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction Soybean is one of the most cultivated plants in the world due to its versatility of use (Gesteira et al. 2015). In the crop of 2015/2016, the country produced 98 million of tons of soybean, in which the middle-west region was responsible for 50% of this production (Conab, 2016). Modifications in the spatial arrangements of the culture can be performed through the variation of number of plants in the lines and in the row spacing lines. Therefore, it is possible to identify the ideal spacing, in order to induce the genotype to achieve its maximal productive potential; and posteriorly, develop a recommendation for soybean cultivation (Peixoto et al. 2000; Madalosso et al. 2010). The necessity of new studies on soybean plant spacings occurs due to a change in morpho- physiological characteristics of the soybean cultures; management practices and opening of new areas. These studies foster innumerable advantages such as: use efficiency of water in function of quicker shading of the ground; distribution of roots; more uniform exploration of soil fertility; and higher plant solar energy interception, which minimizes the costs of application of defensives and increases productivity expectations (Procópio et al. 2013). Diverse arrangements of plants are evaluated in crops, such as cross sowing (Procópio et al. 2013), double row sowing (Procópio et al. 2014) and reduction of row spacing without increase of plant population per area. Plant arrangements, that promote high light and agrochemicals penetration in the sunshade, improving the photosynthetic rate, leaf sanity and longevity on ground may maximize gain productivity (Bruns, 2011). In this way, this study intends to collaborate in the reduction of inadequate use of arrangements and imbalance between vegetative and reproductive growth; moreover to reduce risks of plant lodging (Mauad et al. 2010; Balbinot Jr. 2012). Based on the above considerations, this study aimed to verify growth and productivity of three soybean cultivars (BMX Desafio RR, BMX Ultra IPRO e BMX Bônus IPRO) in three different row spacings (0,35; 0,45 and 0,50 m). Methods This study was conducted since October of 2015 in a commercial farm of the city of Rondonópolis, of the state of Mato Grosso (MT); at 16º58'67'' south latitude, 54º86'25'' west longitude and 566m altitude. Based on Köppen’s climate classification, the region is characterized by humid