How should soybeans be harvested properly? A full breakdown of the key methods

Soybeans should be harvested promptly once mature. If harvesting is too late, the pods lose too much moisture and are prone to shattering and dropping seeds, causing losses. The suitable harvest period should be determined according to different harvest methods. When harvesting with a sickle, begin harvesting after all soybean leaves have fallen, as nutrient transport to the seeds has essentially stopped by then. Mechanical harvesting must be done after the whole plant is fully mature and dry.

Manual harvesting is best done in the morning, when the soybean plants have a higher moisture content, so they do not prick the hands and are less prone to pod shattering. A low stubble height is required, with no "horse ears" left exposed and no missed cutting. After cutting, if the seed moisture content is relatively high, the plants can be left in the field to dry for a few days; those already dry should be transported back to the barnyard promptly and stacked. For mechanical harvesting, the stubble should be lowered as much as possible to reduce losses, and at the same time the drum clearance should be adjusted well to prevent incomplete threshing if the clearance is too large or an increase in broken kernels if the clearance is too small.