Abstract
This study was carried out to determine adequate planting date, to compare the growth characteristics between early and late maturing cultivars, and to provide the data for the cultivation techniques of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in double cropping system with winter crops on paddy field in Korea. Cultivars were planted on 26 May, 16 June, and 7 July with a planting density of $70cm(row\;widtb)\;{\times}\;10cm$ (planting spacing). Seed yield of soybean planted on June 16 and July 7 was approximately $37\%\;and\;53\%$, respectively, less than that of conventional planting date of May 26 in Pungsan-namulkong, and planted on June 16 and July 7 was about $30\%\;and\;37\%$, respectively, less then that of conventional planting date of May 26 in Hanamkong. The number of pods and seeds per plant decreased as planting date delayed. Seed weight increased in Pungsan-namulkong but decreased in Hannamkong as planting date delayed. The flowering date was late in delayed planting plots, but it was shorted for days from emergence to flowering and from emergence to maturity. The plant height of Hannamkong was greater than Pungsan-namulkong from the emergence to flowering stages, but in contrast, it was greater in Pungsan-namulkong than Hannamkong after flowering stage (50d after emergence) when it planted on May 26. There were no significant differences between two soybean cultivars at planting dates of June 16 and July 7. Leaf number, leaf area, and dry matter were also reduced by late planting, and Both of them were shown in high reduction at the later planting. There was a high significant difference at the flowering $(r\;=\;0.87^{**})$ and pod formation $(r\;=\;0.91^{**})$ stages between leaf dry matter and seed yield. Crop growth rate (CGR) was greater at $R2\~R3$ growth stages compared to $R3\~R4\;or\;R4\~R5$ growth stages in two soybean cultivars and the greatest CGR was obtained at planting date of May 26 in two soybean cultivars except for R4-R5 growth stage in Pungsan-namulkong. There was a highly significant positive difference between the seed yield and the leaf area index (LAI) across R3 to R4 and R2 to R3 stages. The photosynthetic rate $(P_N)$ of the uppermost leaf position had no significant difference among planting dates and between two soybean cultivars. However, $P_N$ of the $7^{th}$ leaf position increased as the planting date delayed.