ABSTRACT
The study aimed to evaluate the influence of physiological seed quality on the spatial distribution of plants in the field, as well as the effect on variability among soybean plants. Six lots of soybean cultivar CD 202, with three vigor levels (high, medium and low) and two lots on each level were used. Lots of high physiological quality showed germination of 96% and lots considered of medium vigor showed 82% of germination and vigor between 60% and 67%, whereas lots of low vigor showed 70% germination and vigor between 55% and 58%. The test was conducted in plots formed by seven 5 m long rows with spacing of 0.45 m. The sowing was performed by opening furrows by hand with the equidistant distribution of seeds using marked rulers, corrected by the germination of each seed lot. Lots of seeds of higher vigor provide greater uniformity in the distribution of plants in the field. The reduction in seed physiological quality provides increased variability among plants within populations, throughout the entire developmental period of soybean, also affecting the seed yield per plant.