Soybeans are a crop that is gaining in popularity every year, including in Poland. Farmers are increasingly willing to introduce this plant into their crop rotation. How to grow soybeans? How to fertilize? We invite you to read the article!
Soybean – soil requirements
Soybean is a thermophilic plant, belonging to the bean species. It significantly affects crop rotation, breaking the cereal monoculture often found in Poland. This plant, as well as other legumes, has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in root papillae. In addition to its good effect on the soil, soybeans also have excellent forage values. Soybeans can have up to 40% protein in their composition.
Soybeans are a species with high temperature requirements, and as a result, their cultivation falls during the hottest months of the year, i.e. from May to September/October. Soybeans do best on soils of the faulty and very good wheat complex with an acidity level of 6 – 6.5 PH. The plant does not tolerate acidic, sandy and sandy soils. Due to its high thermal requirements, the soil should be well heated before sowing. The optimal sowing date for soybeans is therefore the last decade of April and the first decade of May. Since we have had different climatic conditions during this period in recent years, we can assume that soybeans are sown when the cherry blossoms. Do not delay the sowing of soybeans, as this can result in the pods being tied very close to the ground, which causes many problems during harvest.
Soybean cultivation – fertilization
Soybeans have high soil requirements. First of all, the field must have a regulated acidity reaction. Otherwise, at a pH below 6 we will significantly reduce the formation of papillae on the roots, and thus the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. We should carry out liming at least 2-3 months before the planned sowing, giving the fertilizer time to deacidify the soil. Phosphorus and potassium fertilization should also be carried out before sowing. For one ton of soybeans including green matter, soybeans consume about 25 kg of phosphorus, 35 kg of potassium, 10 kg of magnesium, 20 kg of calcium and 4 kg of sulfur. We should adjust fertilization under the intended yield.
Many people think that soybeans do not need nitrogen fertilization, because they will supply the nitrogen themselves. Unfortunately, this is a mistake. The fact is that nitrogen is not the main nutrient during the cultivation of this crop, while we can not completely ignore nitrogen fertilization. Before sowing, we recommend applying a starter dose of about 30 kg of N. This will help soybeans develop healthy roots and even out emergence. Further nitrogen fertilization should be applied when deficiencies are noticed.
Soybeans also need foliar fertilization with micronutrients. Magnesium sulfate mixed with micronutrients (copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum, manganese) will perform excellently in this role.
With favorable weather and good conditions for development, the yield of soybeans in Poland is 3 to 5 tons per hectare.
Soil preparation for sowing soybeans
To facilitate soybean germination and ensure a trouble-free harvest the soil for soybeans must be very carefully leveled. The plant sets pods along the entire length of the stem which, if the field is poorly prepared, is fundamental, as the lower pods will not be harvested accurately. Weed control is also of great importance when growing soybeans. With a limited number of herbicides, the best way will be to cultivate the field several times before the planned sowing. The soil should be shallowly tilled and free of clods. We recommend using a EUROCULTI unit for this purpose. The machine on a running system equipped with 5 rows of spring tines will perfectly shake and season the soil. To fight weeds, the suspended aggregate BIOCULTI will be suitable. The aggregate is equipped with 6 rows of spring tines with straight or goosefoot coulters and 2 rows of harrowing fingers at the back, pulling weeds out of the ground and spreading them over the field without letting them germinate. We recommend approaching weed control at least 3 times. Such soil cultivation greatly helps the development of soybeans in the early stages of growth and gives great hope for a good yield of this plant.
