Causes of Shriveled Soybean Seeds and Control Methods
After soybeans mature, it is common to find seeds with incomplete development, sometimes nothing more than an empty shell. Such beans are called shriveled or blighted seeds, and shriveled seeds can reduce yields to some extent. So what causes shriveled soybean seeds? And how can they be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
I. Causes of Shriveled Seeds
The main reason soybeans produce shriveled seeds is the gradual decline in leaf function, which reduces the nutrients synthesized through photosynthesis, so the beans develop shriveled seeds due to insufficient nutrition. Another cause is a lack of water, which blocks nutrient transport so that nutrients cannot be delivered to the beans in time. Moreover, in the late growth stage of soybeans, the decline of various physiological functions is inevitable, but if fertilizer and water are excessive, it will accelerate this decline, causing severely insufficient nutrition in the seeds, which then stop developing and form shriveled seeds. In addition, when soybeans are planted in fertile, loose soil with sufficient basal fertilizer, excessive early growth, spindly growth or lodging can also lead to shriveled seeds in the later stage, and pests and diseases can also cause shriveled soybean seeds.
II. Control Methods
1. First, according to soil moisture conditions and climatic conditions, irrigate or drain water in time. During the flowering and podding stage of soybeans, if drought occurs, drain water in time, but flooding irrigation is strictly prohibited; if rainy weather occurs, drain water promptly to avoid waterlogging that damages the roots. In addition, after watering or rain, appropriate intertillage can be carried out to loosen the soil and increase soil permeability, avoid soil compaction after watering or rain, and also promote soybean root growth and enhance absorption capacity.
2. The flowering and podding stage and the seed formation stage of soybeans are the peak periods of fertilizer demand. At this time, if the supply of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer is insufficient, it will lead to slow soybean growth, prolonged flowering and podding stage, and many shriveled seeds. Therefore, fertilizer should be applied in time. In order to quickly supplement the plant's nutritional needs, foliar spraying can be used. Generally, 200 grams of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 50 grams of ammonium molybdate are used per mu, mixed with 50-60 kg of water, and evenly sprayed on the leaves, which can increase yield by more than 10%.
3. Great importance must be attached to the prevention and control of pests and diseases. Strengthen field management, apply more organic fertilizer or phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, enhance the disease resistance of the plants, and control pests and diseases promptly once they occur, so as not to affect yield.
The above is an introduction to the causes of shriveled soybean seeds and control methods. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.