Legume Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.6, 279-287 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/lgg 279 Research Insight Open Access Effects of Different Sowing Densities on Soybean Yield and Quality Dandan Huang Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: dandan.huang@hibio.org Legume Genomics and Genetics, 2025 Vol.16, No.6 doi: 10.5376/lgg.2025.16.0028 Received: 30 Sep., 2025 Accepted: 15 Nov., 2025 Published: 30 Nov., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Huang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Huang D.D., 2025, Analysis on the application of intercropping in the efficient land utilization of leguminous crops, Legume Genomics and Genetics, 16(6): 279-287 (doi: 10.5376/lgg.2025.16.0028) Abstract Soybean (Glycine max) is a vital global crop valued for its protein and oil content, making the optimization of agronomic practices such as sowing density essential for improving both yield and quality. This study synthesized the current research results on the physiological, environmental and genotypic effects of different sowing densities on soybean growth and development, and explored how plant competition for resources, canopy structure and root development interact with sowing density to affect yield and seed quality traits such as protein and oil content, uniformity and vitality; further explored how environmental factors such as soil fertility, climate change and management practices regulate density response, and the differences in genotype adaptability to high-density and low-density planting. The case study in China provides localized insights for the practical application of optimizing sowing density, while future development directions emphasize the application of precision agriculture and remote sensing technology integration in density management. This study underscores the need for site- and variety-specific sowing strategies to enhance sustainable soybean production and guide future agronomic innovations. Keywords Soybean yield; Sowing density; Seed quality; Plant physiology; Precision agriculture 1 Introduction Soybean (Glycine max) is an important crop worldwide. It is rich in protein and oil, and can be used not only as food, but also as feed and industrial raw materials, so it has many uses. This crop can adapt to various climates and can also help agricultural sustainable development through nitrogen fixation, so it plays a very important role in ensuring global food security and agricultural development (Claupein et al., 2019; Jańczak-Pieniążek et al., 2021). In order to improve the yield and quality of soybeans, it is particularly important to improve planting technology, among which sowing density is a key factor. Sparse or dense planting will affect plant morphology, growth effect, yield structure and resource utilization efficiency, such as competition for light, water and nutrients (Schmidt et al., 2019; Guo et al., 2022). The right sowing density helps to form a better canopy structure, and also allows photosynthesis and rhizobium activity to be smoother, while reducing negative situations such as lodging or reduced pod number (Ball et al., 2001; Huang et al., 2024). Because conditions vary from place to place and from management to management, each region needs to adjust the sowing density according to the actual situation in order to obtain the best yield and quality (Strunjaš et al., 2010). The main purpose of this study is to summarize the current research results on the changes in soybean yield and quality under different sowing densities. We will explore the effects of different planting densities on yield components, seed components (such as protein and oil content), plant appearance and physiological processes, which will vary depending on environmental and management conditions. In addition, we will focus on analyzing the relationship between sowing density and other planting factors, and finally put forward some practical suggestions to help improve soybean yield and quality worldwide. 2 Theoretical Basis of Sowing Density and Plant Physiology 2.1 Plant competition for light, nutrients, and water When the sowing density increases, the competition between plants for light, nutrients and water will also increase.
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