Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of two plant populations (28 and 14 plants per $m^2$) and two toppings in conventional plant population (28 plants per $m^2$) on soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Pungsannamulkong) cultivated in the paddy field. The two topping time were taken at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ and 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stages in the conventional plant population. Experimental design for growth data was a randomized complete block with three replications, and samples were taken at R1 (July 31), R3 (August 19), R5 (September 2) and R7 (September 23) growth stages. The branch number of soybean was relatively higher in the low plant population (14 plants per $m^2$) and with the topping at the 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ leaf stage, in the conventional plant population (28 plants per $m^2$), and with topping at the 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage in descending order. The highest average branch length of soybean was observed in the low population and the longest branch length was observed from the soybean with topping at the 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ leaf stage. The leaf number per plant was decreased in order of in the low population, with the topping at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage, with the topping at 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage, and in the conventional population. The leaf area was high in the low population and with topping at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage and was relatively low in the conventional population and with the topping at 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage in soybean. The dry weight of leaves and branches was high in the low population and with the topping at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage and was relatively low in the conventional population and with topping at 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage. The leaf number per plant was high in the low population and with topping at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage and was relatively low in the conventional population and with topping at 8$^{th}$ to 9$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage. The grain yield per 10a was high with the topping at 6$^{th}$ to 7$^{th}$ trifoliolate leaf stage.