Some years ago, soybean was a crop that didn’t need efficient processing and had a poor consumer market. People had not yet realized the great benefits that soy offers. Today, there is an increased demand for soy products worldwide, thanks to its potential health benefits.
Recent studies properly spell out the benefits of consuming soy and its by-products, thus attracting more consumers. This makes soybean cultivation one of the most profitable industries you can venture into.
Besides profitability, other benefits associated with soybean cultivation include; contributing towards environmental sustainability, low production cost due to soybean adaptability, and a source of reliable income to farmers due to the demand for soy. Additionally, soybean cultivation helps enhance the soil tilth and leaves higher nutrients, increasing yields for the next crop.
However, to run a successful soy cultivation enterprise for optimum gains, there are certain practices that you should employ. This post will discuss the essential practices for successful soy cultivation, from appropriate planting methods to effective weed control measures. Whether an investor or a farmer, you must understand these practices as they are key to increased yields, crop quality, and maximum profits.
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1. Choosing the Suitable Seed Variety
Another crucial practice for successful soybean cultivation is selecting the ideal seed variety. It is one of the most essential yet highly challenging decisions a soybean producer will make. This is because there are plenty of seed varieties available on the market that one can choose from. However, you can smoothen the process by considering the following factors.
The most important factor when selecting a soybean variety is its yield potential. With the ever-evolving global soy supply chain staying updated on new varieties that offer improved performance and adaptability is essential. You should opt for a variety with high yielding and stability to endure the weather conditions and soil composition of your farm location.
Another key element to consider when choosing a seed variety is disease resistance. Plenty of conditions can trigger the occurrence and strength of soybean diseases throughout the planting seasons. Therefore, as a soybean producer, you should have advanced knowledge of rampant diseases and use it to select the suitable disease resistance variety.
2. Disease and Pest Management
Soybean crops are vulnerable to an array of pesky invaders, including aphids, caterpillars, and stink bugs that can significantly affect growth. A successful harvest requires keeping these intruders at bay through effective disease and pest management practices. Left unchecked, they can wreak havoc on soybean plants, causing a reduction in yields and sizeable financial losses. Protecting your soybean crop against these threats is imperative for a fruitful harvest.
One of the best defenses against diseases is selecting soybean varieties that are resistant or tolerant to prevalent diseases in your area. Planting resistant varieties reduce the risk of infection and minimize the need for chemical interventions. Stay informed about the latest research and advancements in breeding programs as new resistant varieties are continually being developed to combat emerging threats.
To enhance your defense against crop diseases, it is recommended to practice crop rotation. Planting the same crops in the same field year after year can increase disease buildup. By alternating your crops regularly, you can interrupt pathogens’ life cycles and reduce their capacity to survive in the soil effectively. Consequently, this significantly reduces disease pressure on your crops while increasing their yields.
When necessary, it’s recommended to use fungicides as a preventative or curative measure to safeguard soybean crops against fungal diseases. To ensure optimal timing and application rates for effective disease control while minimizing environmental impact, consult local guidelines and recommendations.
3. Proper Soil Preparation
Proper soil preparation is also an essential practice that leads to successful soy cultivation. This process involves testing the soil pH levels for soybean. The normal range for the soil pH for soybean farming that aids in preserving the soil nutrients is 5.5 to 6.9.
However, if you have sampled the soil and the pH is lower than the range, you can adjust it by adding the recommended fertilizer to the soil. It helps balance the nutrients in the soil to attain the optimal range.
Additionally, you can add organic matter like compost or manure to your soil as a step in soil preparation. It helps increase the soil structure and drainage as the organic matter helps adjust the soil aggregation to allow for more varied pores.
4. Following Appropriate Planting Methods
Adhering to the appropriate planting methods in soybean farming greatly contributes to its success. In soybean farming, various step-by-step measures must be followed to achieve favorable outcomes.
First is the pre-planting preparations. This is where the process of seed treatment occurs. Farmers apply fungicides to the seeds to protect them from fungal pathogens that cause seed diseases. Also, they apply insecticides to the seeds to reduce the influence of insect pests in damaging the seeds or seedlings.
Followed by that is the planting operations. Here, the farmer has to assess the best planting time, number of seeds, planting space, and planting depth. The planting time is when seeds are sown into the soil and heavily relies on rainfall.
For the planting space and depth, consider the optimum number of seeds occupying an acre of land and sow the seeds not too deep for easy nurturing. Avoid planting excess seeds in your field to reduce the competition for nutrients among your plants, leading to lower yields.
5. Proper Irrigation and Water Management
Water is a crucial element of successful soybean cultivation, and if not properly managed, it can lead to extreme losses. The main determinants of water requirement for your soybeans are weather, planting time, location, and growth stage. During heavy rains, irrigation is unnecessary as the rains are reliable plant water sources.
Moreover, soybeans require little amount of water during the seedling stage. They can absorb up to half their weight into the soil; thus, moisture is only needed on the upper layer. Water usage increases as the plant grows, especially in the reproductive stage. Therefore you have to be aware of the water shortage and irrigate to prevent flower abortion and decreased seed size, which can greatly hinder high yields.
Furthermore, through evapotranspiration, you can keep track of the lost soil water and properly determine the amount of water remaining for plant use. This helps you know the perfect time to initiate irrigation. You must also minimize waterlogging, as it can cause root rot.
Conclusion
Investing in soybean cultivation can be a rewarding venture. You can ensure your success in the soybean industry and maximize profits with suitable irrigation and water management systems, effective weed control measures, appropriate planting techniques, and proper soil preparation.
Also, due to the growing demand for soy worldwide, selecting the perfect soybean variety with high yields and a proper supply and management chain will make you a reliable supply source to consumers, thus guaranteeing your success in soybean cultivation.
