Ten key steps for high-yield soybean cultivation

First, the good-seed step. According to local factors such as climate, soil fertility, soil properties, growth period, rainfall, effective accumulated temperature, production level, and cultivation mode, choose high-oil and high-protein improved varieties with strong stress resistance and good yield performance.

Second, the land-preparation step. In soil tillage, adhere to a soil tillage system combining subsoiling, plowing, harrowing, and rotary tillage, with subsoiling as the main practice; vigorously promote the subsoiling method, with a subsoiling depth of 40-50 cm. For spring land preparation on corn stubble, ridge up along the thawed soil and press in time to improve land-preparation quality, achieving clean ground with no stubble, level ground with no trench furrows, and fine soil with no clods.

Third, the sowing step. Sow early at the right time. Generally, when the daily average temperature at 5 cm below the surface is 7-8°C, it is the suitable sowing period for soybeans. Sowing too early is not allowed, because low temperature slows seedling emergence, makes seedlings rusty, and easily causes seed rot and disease, resulting in missing plants and gaps. Sowing too late cannot make full use of the growth period and affects normal maturity. For sowing method, use mechanical precision hill-drop sowing. For sowing quality, seeds should be distributed evenly with no broken rows, no repeated sowing, and no missed sowing, with consistent soil covering, preventing both seeds from sinking too deep and seeds from being left exposed.

Fourth, the field-inspection step. After sowing, conduct field inspections. Where missing plants and gaps are found, replant in time by transplanting seedlings on the spot, carrying more soil and watering well to improve the survival rate. For fields with less than 50% of a normal seedling stand, choose early-maturing varieties, promptly destroy and reseed, and strengthen management. In short, do a good job of checking seedlings and replanting or reseeding to achieve a full and strong seedling stand.

Fifth, the subsoiling step. When soybean soil is supplied up to cotyledon emergence, carry out subsoiling. "When beans lift their cotyledons, they are not afraid of being covered by soil." Subsoiling has many benefits: good weed-killing effect, with a weed-control rate above 90%; it can restrain seedling growth and promote early and rapid seedling growth; it raises soil temperature by 2-3°C; it loosens the soil, activates the soil, and accelerates the mineralization of soil organic matter; it releases cold and increases warmth, and prevents water evaporation.

Sixth, the fertilization step. Apply more farmyard manure. Generally, apply more than 15 tonnes of high-quality farm manure per hectare as base fertilizer, and at the same time apply 300 kg of three-element compound fertilizer per hectare as base fertilizer. Apply topdressing reasonably, that is, apply seedling fertilizer early. Generally, when the first compound leaf unfolds, apply 3-5 kg of urea per mu, and at the same time apply an appropriate amount of phosphorus fertilizer. Apply flower fertilizer well. The flowering stage of soybean is the peak period of fertilizer demand. Generally, apply 5-7 kg of urea per mu, and it is advisable to supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, applying 7-10 kg of calcium phosphate or potassium fertilizer per mu. Supplement with grain fertilizer. Generally, spray with a solution of 2% superphosphate and 0.5% urea, using 50 kg per mu.

Seventh, the seedling-thinning step. Soybean seedling thinning can be carried out in two rounds. The first time, when soybeans have grown 1-2 true leaves, remove clustered and crowded seedlings. When 2-3 true leaves have grown, remove thin, weak, and mixed seedlings. Generally, ridge spacing is 1.2-1.3 chi, plant spacing is about 6 cun, and 7500-8000 plants are retained per mu for reasonable close planting.

Eighth, the weeding step. First, three hoeings and three cultivations to do a good job of weeding; second, chemical weeding. Apply herbicide after sowing and before seedling emergence. Per hectare, use 2500-3000 ml of 50% acetochlor emulsifiable concentrate, plus 300-600 g of 70% metribuzin wettable powder or plus 800-1000 ml of 48% clomazone emulsifiable concentrate. For stem and leaf treatment, at the 2-4 leaf stage of weeds, to control grass weeds, use 900-1500 ml of 5% quizalofop-p-ethyl emulsifiable concentrate per hectare; to control broadleaf weeds, use 1000-1500 ml of 25% fomesafen aqueous solution per hectare, and spray with 200 kg of water; for autumn application, spray 2500-3500 ml of 72% metolachlor plus 800-1000 ml of 48% clomazone per hectare; in early August when weed seeds form, pull the large weeds in the field once.

Ninth, the chemical-control step. When soybean plants grow too vigorously and there is a risk of lodging, spray chemical regulators such as Fengshoubao to protect flowers and pods, prevent lodging, and achieve an obvious yield increase.

Tenth, the pest-and-disease step. The main soybean pests and diseases include cyst nematode, root rot, and root maggot, which can be controlled with soybean seed coating agents. To control soybean root rot, mix seeds with 50% carbendazim-thiram mixture at 0.5% of seed weight. To control cyst nematode disease, mix seeds with soybean root-protecting bacterial agent at 2% of seed weight, while also controlling root rot. In addition, also control frogeye leaf spot, downy mildew, seedling-stage pests, red spider mites, aphids, meadow moth, soybean pod borer, and others. Do a careful job of field forecasting and prediction. Once they occur, choose suitable and appropriate pesticides, and combine with other measures for integrated control.