Top 19 Steps to Boost Soybean Yield: How to Increase Production, Quality, Size, and Tips

Soybeans are one of the most widely grown and used legumes in the world due to the valuable components of their seeds. It is key for growers to get the most Soybeans per acre to profit with Soybean prices rising. To maximize Soybean production, farmers need to maximize their management. Let’s check out the steps to boost Soybean yield.

Top 19 steps to boost Soybean yield
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Steps to boost Soybean yield

Step 1: Management practices for crop growth

Management practices that may affect crop growth include seed preparation, variety selection, planting rate, planting depth, row width, pest management (diseases, pests, and weeds), and plants, including nutrition and harvesting. Soybean production can be enhanced by adopting the right methods and technologies for better crop management and system improvement. To get maximum yield, farmers are advised to adopt the system-based method of planting.

Such a comprehensive agricultural management program includes cultivation methods, cultivation choices, and the use of herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides. The growth, development, and production of Soybeans result from the interaction of different genetic potential with ecological and farming methods. Reducing environmental pressure will improve seed production. 

Step 2: Steps to increase successful Soybean production

The secret to successful Soybean production, from planting to harvesting, lies in keeping your plants healthy. Proper planning and good planting management are essential to ensure maximum yield. Factors that affect Soybean production and classify them according to their effects on yield;

  • Weather 
  • Fertilizer 
  • Genetics 
  • Plant protection (pests, diseases) 
  • Seed treatment 
  • Row spacing 

Some factors, such as weather and growers, are out of control, but they must always be held accountable. As genetics and management practices improve Soybean production, more N may be needed to maximize potential production.

In case you missed it: Best Fertilizer for Soybean Crop: Organic, Compost, NPK, When and How To Apply

Soybean plant
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Step 3: Key conditions for high yields

  • Maximizes the available phosphorus and potassium required for high yields
  • Promotes fast, uniform emergence
  • Safe seed at recommended rates 
  • Improves plant health
  • Clean, Easy Handling 

Step 4: Factors affecting Soybean production

  • Planting Date 
  • Row Spacing and Sowing Rate 
  • Common Diseases and Insects 
  • Crop rotation 

Step 5: How to increase the number of Soybean seeds/plants

The number of nodes determines seed yield per plant because the number of flowers is genetically determined and does not change much. 

  • Date of planting – The planting date is the top group that leaves an average of 15 days before the bottom group. 
  • Row spacing – Soybeans planted in 15-inch rows more than 7, 7.5, 22, 30-inch or planted in other rows. 
  • Tillage and residue – Tillage and residue management is done more with the top group than before, while lower production is in no-till fields. 
  • Date of harvest – An important factor affecting yields was the harvest history, in which the highest yielding farmers harvested Soybeans on time, six days before the low yielding group.

Step 6: Cultivar selection for the highest crop yield

According to the following, proper selection of Soybean varieties is essential for success in high-yielding, management-based production systems. The seed variety has a special effect on yield, and the variety that achieves full maturity for the area leads to the highest yield increase. Many factors affect the choice of farming. 

  • Grow length is an important factor in crop selection. Soybeans are sensitive to daylight, and the more they are planted in the south, the later they mature. 
  • Temperatures, especially nighttime temperatures, affect plant growth. That is why Soybeans grow faster in the eastern producing regions than in the warmer western parts of the country. It is generally accepted that cultivation with a long growing season performs better in western regions with warmer climates, moderate growth season cultivation performs better in more moderate temperatures, and small farmers perform better in areas with cold climates. 
  • The best planting date in a particular area will influence the choice of farming as it will determine the choice between early or late maturity type. The best planting date is mid-October, but farmers can still plant by December in warmer climates. Soybeans should be planted before or at the same time as corn. 
  • Plant and pod height will affect the variety as well as the pruning. Relatively low-growing seasonal crops often have small plants with fewer pods. 

In case you missed it: Organic Soybean Farming, Production Process

Soybean Farming
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  • Production methods will affect many characteristics of the Soybean plant. Narrow rows and narrow spaces between plants in rows can result in beans growing on the plant. Varieties that risk making side shoots will be more suitable for wide rows, while those with fewer side shoots and more open canopy are more suitable for narrow rows.
  • They are ideally cultivated under irrigation with mature growth, while unspecified crops that do not stop growing after flowering are more suitable for dryland conditions.

Step 7: Soil requirement to maximize Soybean production

The soil pH is important because it directly affects the availability of nutrients in the soil to the plant. Soil pH measures the acidity or concentration of hydrogen ions in a soil solution. Many chemical and biological soil processes are affected by pH. Maintaining a proper pH will maximize the efficiency of other crop inputs and reduce the risk of yield loss. The optimum pH range for maximum Soybean production is 6.0 to 6.8 (in mineral soils). 

Maintaining proper soil pH levels ensures nutrient availability and maximizes productivity. Good soil structure is essential for good root growth and development – Soybeans are sensitive to soil compounds. Distance with plant density and crop rotation will help increase Soybean production by reducing the incidence of diseases, pests, and weeds. Pest and disease control minimizes damage to root and leaf areas. 

Step 8: Climate conditions for rapid crop growth

Soybeans require a temperature of about 15 to 32°C for germination for rapid growth, but the crop requires high temperatures for rapid growth. The best type of harmful soil is sandy loam which has a good amount of organic matter. 

Step 9: Spend time on a plant selection for the quality of Soybean grains

Choosing the right variety for your acre is the most important thing a farmer can do to improve yields. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most difficult steps because there is no single reliable source of information. It is important to choose a variety with herb tolerant properties, variety maturity, agricultural properties, disease, and pest resistance. Choose varieties and maturity groups with the most productive capacity and genetics and trait packages suitable for your situation and methods.

Step 10: Weather conditions increase the pod set

As always, the biggest impact on any crop is something over which we have no control, but we can reduce weather effects with proper planning. Ideally, you want to plant Soybeans as early in the season as possible in late April or early May. Because Soybeans are a mildly sensitive crop, this timeline allows the plant to flower during the longest days of the year, from late June to early July, which will increase the pod set. 

In case you missed it: Soybean Seed Germination, Time, Temperature, Process

Soybean farm
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Step 11: Variety selection for Soybean production

Variety selection is one of the important management decisions affecting Soybean yield. Soybean growers need to compare performance results from various sources, locations, and environments. A common mistake is to look only at local data (your farm, neighborhood, county, etc.). Local statistics, despite being interesting, provide only a glimpse of how well this variety of Soybeans performed in a narrow area last year.

Comparing different types of performance in many different environments and factors will give farmers the best forecasting ability for next year’s environment. Farmers are constantly reminded that their first production decision is the type they plant. Always choose a high-yielding variety with the necessary agricultural and defense package and is suitable for the field and soil where you will be planting it.

Many varieties like JS 93-05, JS 95-60, JS 335, JS 80-21, NRC 2, NRC 37, Punjab 1, and Kalitur have been developed with high seed longevity. Varieties like MACS 58, NRC 37, Type 49, Durga, and Punjab 1 have been developed, suitable for mechanical harvesting with the lowest entry point of the lowest bean. In India, scientists have developed MACS 1407, a high-yielding and pest-resistant Soybean variety.

Planting various Soybeans to diversify plant genetics can be a good strategy to reduce the risk of crop damage due to stressors. However, the timing of harvest and frost should be considered. Once a group of high-yielding Soybean varieties has been selected, the next decision is to select varieties that meet specific disease, pest, and weed resistance/tolerance characteristics, keeping in mind the specific fields. Using traditional cross-breeding techniques, they developed MACS 1407, which yields 39 quintals per hectare.

Step 12: Know your fields and consider your cropping system

There are frequent field and soil samples to determine their status and long-term patterns and trends for productivity, fertility, soil health, drainage and water management, disease, pests, and weed pressures. Many companies now offer field satellite images. Consider past and present crop production and management practices and discover new ideas and technologies for continuous improvement.

In case you missed it: Soybean Cultivation Income, Project Report

Soybean Farming
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Knowing your land and how you cultivate can better anticipate new methods, opportunities for improvement, and specific short-term needs that will ensure maximum profits. Start with a clean field. Early season grass control is another essential ingredient for high-yielding Soybeans.

You don’t want to lose any yields with herbs, so starting with a clean field is important. It can rarely be accomplished using a postemergence herbicide application strategy. Using an early pre-emergent, residual herbicide also helps provide a large window for a later post-emergent application. 

Step 13: Plant stress impact on yield

The effect of plant stress on Soybean plant dehydration or drought Is susceptible to yield loss in two major stages due to stress – germination and reproduction – seed development. Soybeans should grow about 50% of their weight in water and develop radicle and hypocotyl, primary root and shoot tissues. Seeds planted in dry soil or not planted in the soil will not be able to absorb water unless there is adequate rainfall. 

Step 14: Maintain the basis of your fertility to increase crop yield

Some farmers have overlooked their pH levels and P&K applications with low commodity prices. Soybeans respond to lime when the pH is less than six and eat too much potassium. Soybeans need nutrients and water. Nutrient seed dressing is designed to provide essential nutrients in the right shape and proportions to aid early root development.

Early and large-scale root formation is important for plant health and driving production. A broad, healthy root system results in the spread of the root surface. The higher the root level of the Soybean plant, the more nutrients and water it can absorb. It is highly productive and beneficial in dry conditions. 

Step 15: Best fertilizer for Soybean crop yield

Proper nutrition is key to maximum yield. Soybean yields will decrease when it is deficient in essential nutrients. Increasing fertilizer efficiency and availability produces more Soybeans per acre with less fertilizer. Soybeans need plenty of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P).

Soybeans require about 4 to 4.5 pounds of N is produced per bushel, half of which comes from their nitrogen-fixing nodules and the rest from the soil. The 60-bushel crop eliminates significant nutrients with grains, especially N, P, and sulfur (S). Phosphorus and potassium nutrients are important for high-yielding Soybeans. Maximize your economic profits by using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on Soybeans. 

Step 16: Seed treatment and row spacing for high crop yield

Crop protection is essential, for which high-quality seed treatment is essential. Seed treatment can help protect against soil-borne diseases and pests. Defending against nematodes and protecting against sudden death syndrome are very important in our area. To get a high yield, less than 30-inch rows are useful. Also, the best seed rate to maximize yields is to cut 100,000 plants/acre.

To increase profits, improve planting equipment and seed condition so that the seeds planted per acre do not exceed the required level to achieve this final position. Narrow rows of or less allow plants to quickly canopy and receive more sunlight for photosynthesis, with the added benefit of shading the soil to reduce weed competition. That narrow rows can improve yields to about 8.5 bushels per acre under a top management system. 

Step 17: Effective weed management for more yield

Effective weed control is essential for plants to reduce the adverse effects of light, water, and other essential elements. Weeds can be controlled through management, and mechanical and chemical control. Soybeans should be controlled within the first four weeks after emergence for weeds that have germinated to prevent a decline in yield. Before planting, the growing weeds should be killed by seed preparation.

In case you missed it: Soybean Farming Information Detailed Guide

Soybean Plantation
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Soybean seeds need to be well-connected to the soil so that the Soybean foliage will shade out weeds. Deep-growing plants grow more slowly than shallow-growing plants. Leaving a coarse seed in the middle of a row of seeds will reduce weeds. Narrow rows allow Soybeans to shade bushes more quickly.

Step 18: Plant protection for more growth

Whitefly, tobacco caterpillars, hairy caterpillars, and blister beetles are some of the pests that can attack the Soybean crop, and proper pest control methods can be used to protect them. Significant damage caused by Soybean aphids, Soybean diseases like Phytophthora root and stem rot, sudden death syndrome, white mold, and Soybean cyst nematodes can be reduced by choosing resistant or tolerant varieties.

The variety is your best choice for managing these pests. Disease and pest control are essential to maintain productivity. Using a combination of fungicides and pesticides, a significant portion of the Soybean leaf is retained to block sunlight and maximize seed filling. 

Step 19: Harvesting tips for getting more Soybean yield

When the leaves turn yellow, and the pods are dry, the crop is ripe and ready for harvesting. Harvesting can be done by hand or with a sickle or threshing machine. Harvesting the crop at the appropriate stage through the threshing machine. Symptoms of maturity – leaf drop, leaves turn yellow, seed moisture content 15%.

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