EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN TECHNIQUES ON THE YIELD OF SOYBEANS IN NIGERIA (A STUDY OF BADEGGI)

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important leguminous crop valued for its high-quality protein and oil content, playing a significant role in improving food security and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria. This study investigated the effects of variety and location on soybean yield performance using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experiment involved three soybean varieties (TGx-1448-2E, TGx-1904-6F, and TGx-1951-3F) evaluated across four locations (Badeggi, Ibadan, Mokwa, and Yandev) with three replications per treatment. Data collected on grain yield were analyzed using one-way and two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine the significance of main and interaction effects at a 5% probability level. The results revealed that variety had a statistically significant effect on yield (F = 6.51, p = 0.004), while location (F = 0.47, p = 0.702) and replication (F = 1.44, p = 0.252) effects were not significant. Similarly, the interaction between variety and location was not significant (F = 0.45, p = 0.839), indicating stable varietal performance across environments. Among the tested genotypes, TGx-1951-3F recorded the highest mean yield (1759.9 kg/ha), followed by TGx-1904-6F (1665.6 kg/ha) and TGx-1448-2E (1571.0 kg/ha). The study concludes that genetic variation among soybean varieties is the major determinant of yield performance, while environmental differences across locations had minimal influence. It is therefore recommended that farmers adopt the high-yielding and stable variety TGx-1951-3F for improved productivity across different Nigerian agro-ecological zones. The findings provide valuable insights for soybean breeding programs and agricultural policy aimed at enhancing food production and sustainability in Nigeria.