What are the differences between black beans and soybeans? Explained in one article

Black beans and soybeans are both very common legumes, and many people buy some legumes to keep at home, so what are the differences between black beans and soybeans?

1. Different morphological characteristics

Black bean morphological characteristics: black beans are kidney-shaped or nearly round1, with a black-red or purple-red surface, glossy, with a thin and brittle seed coat that breaks relatively easily. The seed kernel is yellow-white, with a weak odor, sweet taste, neutral nature, and non-toxic. Microscopic identification: the outer layer cells of the seed coat are all sclerotized, polygonal or slightly elongated, uniform in size, with thick walls, extremely fine and dense pit canals, and relatively large cell cavities.

Soybean morphological characteristics: the pod is plump, oblong, slightly curved, drooping, yellow-green, 4-7.5 cm long, 8-15 mm wide, densely covered with brown-yellow long hairs; 2-5 seeds, elliptical, nearly spherical, ovate to oblong, about 1 cm long, about 5-8 mm wide, with a smooth seed coat, light green, yellow, brown, black and other diverse colors depending on the variety, and a distinct elliptical hilum. Flowering period June-July, fruiting period July-September.

2. Different growth characteristics

Black bean growth characteristics: strong adaptability, drought-tolerant, barren-tolerant, salt-alkali-tolerant.

Soybean growth characteristics: prefers warmth, seeds begin to germinate at 10-12°C, with 15-20°C being optimal, the optimal growth temperature is 20-25°C, the optimal temperature during flowering and pod-setting is 20-28°C, pod-setting is delayed at low temperatures, flowering cannot occur below 14°C, and if the temperature is too high the plant ends growth prematurely.

3. Different resource distribution

Black bean resource distribution: black beans are produced in all parts of China. China is rich in black bean resources, with diverse types, and some precious black bean varieties are still used in production today, such as Jiangsu's Taixing black bean, which belongs to the early-maturing spring soybean of the Yangtze River basin, showing early maturity, high yield, and strong adaptability, and is still the control variety of the southern early-maturing spring soybean group in the national soybean regional trial. Dandong medicinal black bean is a black soybean with green cotyledons, large grains, excellent variety, and high nutritional value.

Soybean resource distribution: soybean originated in China. It is cultivated throughout China, with Heilongjiang soybean being the most famous, and it is also widely cultivated around the world.