When is the right time to plant soybeans?

Soybean is an important food and oil crop . Its seeds are rich in protein and fat, have multiple uses and high nutritional value. Soybeans like warmth. The seeds begin to germinate at 10-12℃, the suitable temperature for growth is 20-25℃, and the suitable temperature for flowering and podding is 20-28℃. Pod setting is delayed under low temperatures, flowering cannot occur below 14°C, and plant growth ends prematurely if the temperature is too high. Let’s learn below about when is the best time to plant soybeans?

When is the right time to plant soybeans?

1. Spring-sown soybeans: Spring-sown soybeans are usually sown from late April to early May and are suitable for planting under conditions of suitable spring temperatures and good soil moisture. In Northeast China, the planting time of spring soybeans generally starts from the end of April and lasts to the beginning of May, while the harvest period is around the end of September to the beginning of October. Spring soybeans in the Huanghuaihai region are planted in late April to early May and mature in late August to early September.

2. Summer-sown soybeans: Summer-sown soybeans are generally sown in mid-June and are suitable for planting under conditions of high summer temperatures and abundant rainfall. The summer soybean type in the Huanghuaihai region is sown in June after the wheat harvest and matures in September to early October.

3. Autumn-sown soybeans: The sowing time of autumn-sown soybeans is around mid-to-late August and the harvest is in November.

4. Winter-sown soybeans: In some areas with high temperatures and no frost all year round, winter-sown soybeans are also grown. They are planted in November and harvested in March or April of the following year.

The growth cycle of soybeans is about 3-4 months. From sowing to harvesting, it needs to go through the processes of seed germination, emergence, seedling growth, branching, flowering, poding, grain filling, and maturity. Soybeans like warmth. The seeds begin to germinate at 10-12℃, and the most suitable temperature is 15-20℃. The suitable temperature for growth is 20-25℃, and the suitable temperature for flowering and podding is 20-28℃. During the growth process, soybeans have higher demands for soil moisture and nutrients, especially during the flowering and podding stage.

Soybean sowing method

There are three main soybean sowing methods: row sowing, hole sowing and spot sowing. Row sowing is to sow seeds into a strip of seedlings with a width of about 5-10 cm; hole sowing is to plant seeds in holes at a certain distance on the seedling strip, sowing 4-6 seeds in each hole, and leaving about 3 plants in each hole after emergence; spot sowing is to plant single or double seeds at equal distances on the seedling strip according to density requirements. This is a precision sowing method.

Before sowing, soybean seeds should be carefully selected to remove damaged, half-eaten, shriveled, and insect-infested seeds, leaving only full, uniform seeds. Sun-dry the seeds for 2-3 days to increase seed activity and germination rate. The sowing time is generally when the local temperature is stable at above 10℃, usually around mid-May in the Northeast region. The sowing density should be determined based on the characteristics of the variety and soil fertility. Generally, the number of plants per mu should be controlled at around 13,000.

Field management includes checking seedlings and replanting, thinning and determining seedlings, tilling and soiling, applying flower and pod fertilizers, chemical control of excessive growth, drought and waterlogging prevention, and prevention and control of diseases and pests. Soybeans have strict requirements on soil, and the suitable pH value is 6.0-7.0, and the soil should be fertile, loose, and well-drained. Deep plowing is the principle when preparing the land, and the general plowing depth is 20 to 30 cm. When applying fertilizer, for a plot with a yield of 300 kg per mu, apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, and 10-20 kg of ternary compound fertilizer with 15% each of nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide and potassium oxide, or diammonium phosphate.

When harvesting and threshing, harvest the beans in time after the beans are ripe, the leaves turn yellow, and the grains become round and hard to prevent the pods from bursting. After harvesting, dry and thresh the grains in a clean and pollution-free place to prevent them from being exposed to rain or soaked and sprouting.

In conclusion, soybean is an important food crop, and its planting time has a significant impact on yield and quality. The suitable sowing time of soybeans varies according to the climatic conditions in different regions. Choosing the right time and method for sowing is critical to soybean growth and yield. When planting, local climatic conditions, soil texture and previous crops should be considered, as well as pest and disease control measures. Through scientific field management, the yield and quality of soybeans can be effectively improved.