A Detailed Guide to Soybean Planting Techniques and Management Methods

Soybean is an annual herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family, genus Glycine, native to China. It is cultivated throughout our country and also widely cultivated around the world. It is one of China's important food crops, with a cultivation history of five thousand years. It is most commonly used to make various soy products, extract soybean oil, brew soy sauce and extract protein. Let us take a look at soybean planting techniques together below!

Growth Habits

Soybean prefers warmth. Seeds begin to germinate at 10-12°C, with 15-20°C being optimal. The optimal temperature for growth is 20-25°C, and the optimal temperature during the flowering and pod-setting stage is 20-28°C. At low temperatures, pod-setting is delayed, and below 14°C it cannot flower. If the temperature is too high, the plant ends growth prematurely. Seed germination requires relatively more water, and during the flowering stage the soil moisture content is required to be 70-80%, otherwise the rate of flower bud drop increases. Before flowering, soybean absorbs less than 15% of its total nutrient uptake, while during the flowering and pod-setting stage it accounts for more than 80% of total nutrient uptake.

Land Preparation and Fertilization

In general, soybean planting keeps fertilizer and seed separate, applying fertilizer 4-5 cm below and to the side of the seed. The amount of chemical fertilizer can be adjusted. When applying more than 20 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu, it can be applied in layers: the upper seed fertilizer at a depth of 5-7 cm, accounting for 1/3 of the fertilizer amount, and the base fertilizer at a depth of 10-16 cm, accounting for 2/3 of the fertilizer amount. Alternatively, after the previous crop is harvested, evenly broadcast fermented organic fertilizer on the soil surface, then use a harrow to work the fertilizer into the soil. After the manure and soil are fully mixed, carry out deep plowing. After plowing, harrow and level the soil finely and form ridges. Soybean can also be planted on flat ground.

Summer Planting Techniques

1. Pre-sowing irrigation: For plots with poor soil moisture, where irrigation conditions are available, irrigate once before sowing to facilitate seed germination after sowing. Combine irrigation with field-wide closed herbicide application for closed weeding.

2. Timely sowing: Because the growing season for summer-planted soybean is relatively short, early sowing at the appropriate time is very important. Timely sowing results in a high seedling retention rate, neat and robust emergence, good growth and development, and thick stems.

Autumn Planting Techniques

1. Land preparation and compartment division: After plowing and turning the rice field, divide it into compartments. The compartment width is 2-3 m, the row spacing is 3 m, and the hole spacing is 0.33 m. Sow 2-3 seeds per hole, with a density of about 30,000 plants per mu.

2. Fertilization and sowing: Generally sow before August 10, with a sowing rate of 8-10 kg per mu. Use 25 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer mixed with 500 kg of farmyard manure per mu as covering fertilizer for the seed.

Field Management

1. Intertillage and hoeing: Before the first compound leaf of soybean appears, hoe the entire field once, ensuring the weeds in the seedling rows are completely removed, without injuring the seedlings, and loosening the surface soil. When the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, carry out the second intertillage, ensuring no injury to seedlings, no pressing of seedlings, and no missed weeds. About 10 days after the second intertillage, carry out the third, ensuring deep loosening and covering with more soil.

2. Pre-emergence weed control: Pursuit and clomazone are effective against various grass-family weeds and broadleaf weeds in soybean fields. 5% Pursuit aqueous solution is used at 1.5-2 kg per hectare, and 48% clomazone emulsifiable concentrate is used at 2-2.5 kg per hectare. Pursuit, chlorimuron-ethyl and clomazone can all persist in the soil for a relatively long time, so special attention must be paid to phytotoxicity to subsequent crops.

3. Post-emergence weed control: Apply herbicide when weeds have just emerged, generally no later than the 2-compound-leaf stage of soybean. In years with good spring soil moisture, herbicide application can be appropriately earlier, and the lower limit of the dosage is generally used. In spring drought, herbicide application can be appropriately later, and the upper limit of the dosage is generally used.

① 5% Pursuit aqueous solution at 1-1.5 kg per hectare, and it should not exceed 1.5 kg.

② 12% sethoxydim emulsifiable concentrate at 1-1.5 kg per hectare.

③ 15% quizalofop-p-ethyl at 0.75-1 kg per hectare.

④ 5% quizalofop-p-ethyl emulsifiable concentrate and 24% lactofen emulsifiable concentrate at 0.33-0.75 kg per hectare.