Effect of Crude Extracts of Six Plants on Vegetative Growth of Soybean (Glycine maxMerr.)

Boosting production by applying natural products derived from readily available plant sources to increase vegetative growth of soybean could help ensure food sovereignty, security and affordability of this important source of dietary protein. A preliminary trial using crude extracts from six potential growth stimulating sources suggested while treatment with C. asiatica, M.esculenta (cassava) and G. linearis leaf extract increased soybean plant height and leaf area, A.scholaris stem bark, G.mangostana pericarp and Zea mays silk reduced growth. Promising crude extracts from the first trial were retested at five dilute concentrationson14-day old soybean plants using nested design with four replications. Analysis of variance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (p ≤ 0.05) showed that crude extracts of cassava leaves, C.asiatica and G. linearis increased plant height, while only C. asiatica increased leaf area. The highest plant height and widest leaf area were obtained by applying 25mg/l crude extract of C. asiatica.