There is currently intense research on obtaining information about higher soybean productivity and, in this context, using high quality seeds is extremely important to farmers. With the objective of evaluating the effects of soybean seed vigor on productivity, seed lots with high and low vigor were sown at three different densities: the certified germination %, the certified germination % plus 15% as a correction factor and, from the result of field emergence. The seedling population after emergence was not changed so that the field condition that farmers face when sowing variable quality seeds could be reproduced. During plant development, the following parameters were evaluated: initial stand, plant height at 21 and 75 days after sowing, number of pods and seeds per plant, weight of one thousand seeds, and yield/area. The results showed that: the yield/area of high vigor seed lots is on average up to 9% higher; the seedlings from high vigor seeds are taller at 21 days after sowing.
Glycine max (L.) Merril; stand; yield; germination; vigor
