When Is the Best Time to Plant Soybeans: The 2017 Optimal Planting and Harvest Schedule Across China

The suitable sowing period for soybeans is closely related to the local farming system, natural conditions, and soybean variety types. Generally, sowing is most suitable when the daily average temperature of the 5 cm soil layer reaches 10-12°C. When sowing, early sowing at the right time is required, and the sowing period should be shortened as much as possible. So when is the best time to plant soybeans? What is the optimal planting and harvest time for soybeans across China in 2017?

1. Spring soybean type

Northern spring soybeans are a variety type sown in early spring after winter fallow land, distributed across Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, as well as northern Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu. Grown once a year, generally sown from late April to mid-May, and mostly maturing in September.

Huang-Huai spring soybeans are mainly distributed in the Yellow River and Huai River basins, with more planting in northern Jiangsu. Sown from the end of April to the beginning of May, maturing from the end of August to the beginning of September, mostly intercropped with corn.

Southern spring soybeans are widely distributed in the Yangtze River basin and areas to its south, with more planting in Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, as well as Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and north-central Hunan in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Sown from late March to early April, maturing in early to mid-July, mostly grown in three-crop rotations, rotating wheat, spring soybeans, late rice, or autumn crops.

Spring soybeans are also cultivated in Guangdong, Guangxi, and southern Fujian, sown in February and March, maturing at the end of June to the beginning of July, mostly in three-crop-a-year rotations.

In May, most areas of Northeast China have sufficient precipitation and suitable temperatures, which is very favorable for soybean sowing and the seedling growth of early-sown soybeans.

Different regions in Northeast China have different suitable sowing periods.

Liaoning Province

The suitable sowing period is from April 20 to May 10;

Jilin Province

Suitable sowing period: the eastern region is from April 30 to May 10, the central region is from April 20 to May 5, and the western region is from April 25 to May 10;

Heilongjiang Province

Suitable sowing period: the south-central region is from April 25 to May 10, and the northern and eastern regions are from May 5 to 15;

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

The suitable sowing period is from April 20 to May 20.

2. Huang-Huai-Hai summer soybean type

Sown in June after the wheat harvest, maturing from September to the beginning of October. Medium short-day response.

3. Southern summer soybean type

Generally sown from May to the beginning of June after the wheat harvest or the harvest of other winter-sown crops, maturing from the end of September to October. Strong short-day response.

4. Autumn soybean type

Sown from the end of July to the beginning of August, maturing in early to mid-November. Extremely strong short-day response.