Few soybean pods? Here's how to increase the pod-setting rate
Soybeans are cultivated throughout China and are one of the country's important economic oil crops, with a cultivation history of 5,000 years to date. However, soybeans may produce few flowers, sparse pods, or even no pods at all. So what should you do when the soybean pod-setting rate is low? Is there any way to increase the pod-setting rate? Let's find out together.
1. Reasons for few or no soybean pods
1. Variety reasons. Some farmers may buy seeds of substandard quality, which can lead to a low soybean pod-setting rate.
2. Seed damage. Many farmers tend to save their own seed, but the seed has not been carefully selected, varies in size, and contains many impurities. If mechanical sowing is used, the seed may also be damaged, which can also have a certain effect on pod setting.
3. Unsuitable for local cultivation. If a southern variety is planted in the north, or a northern variety is planted in the south, a low pod-setting rate will occur. Because soybean is a short-day plant, if its light and temperature requirements are not met, no pods will form.
4. Overly dense planting. Poor field ventilation and light penetration, with leaves affecting each other, weakens photosynthesis, and soybeans will then form no pods or fewer pods.
5. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer application
The soybean root system itself can produce rhizobia and supply its own nitrogen. When too much external nitrogen fertilizer is applied, excessive vegetative growth occurs; if this growth is not controlled in time, the plants stay green and fail to fill, and no pods will form.
6. Excessive temperature. When soybeans are in the flowering and pollination stage, temperatures above 35 degrees will affect flowering and pollination, resulting in either no pods or only shriveled pods. The same problem occurs below 15 degrees.
7. Drought and waterlogging. Around flowering, soybeans are relatively sensitive to water demand. If it is too dry and the plants lack water, growth will slow and pod setting will be difficult. If water accumulates in the field, the roots cannot breathe normally and growth is inhibited, which will also cause no pods.
8. Pests and diseases. There are not many pests and diseases during the soybean flowering period, mainly soybean pod borer, leaf roller, snail, downy mildew, etc. If not controlled in time, they will also harm normal soybean growth and lead to no pods.
2. How to increase the soybean pod-setting rate
First, pay attention when choosing a variety, and be sure to choose one suitable for local cultivation, such as for temperature, humidity, growth period, and so on. Try not to choose a variety that has never been planted locally. Soybeans should not be planted too densely, otherwise normal photosynthesis will be affected during flowering and pollination, which will affect flowering and pollination and lower the pod-setting rate. Water management for soybeans must keep up. If drought occurs before or after the flowering and pollination period, the pod-setting rate will also decrease. In addition, if it rains continuously in summer and water accumulates in the field, a low pod-setting rate will also occur. Soybeans are fertilized differently from other crops. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be excessive, and the general fertilization principle is to "apply nitrogen fertilizer appropriately, increase organic fertilizer, and combine phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient fertilizers." Pests and diseases have a relatively large impact on soybeans, especially before flowering. If pests and diseases are not controlled in time, the soybean pod-setting rate will also decline. Beta-cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos can be used to control pests, and metalaxyl · mancozeb, chlorothalonil, and other agents can be used to control diseases.
The above is an introduction to what to do when soybeans have few pods and how to increase the soybean pod-setting rate. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.