Soybeans Glycine max

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SoybeansGlycine max

• History
• Legume native to East Asia
• Oldest soybeans unearthed in Korea
• 1000-900 BC
• First domestic production in China
• Zhou Dynasty in 664 BC
• Originally used only after fermentation

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SoybeansGlycine max

• History
• Introduced to Europe in the early 1700s
• Introduced to the US in 1765
• In 1770 Benjamin Franklin requested some sent to
  him from Europe in a letter home
• Originally used for hay
• The US now produces 55 of the worlds total
  soybeans

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SoybeansGlycine max

• Identification
• Annual plant generally 1-3 tall
• Entire plant covered in fine brown to gray
  pubescence

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SoybeansGlycine maxIdentification

• Leaves Trifoliate, 2-6 long and 1-3 wide

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SoybeansGlycine maxIdentification

• Flowers Small, self fertile, white, pink or
  purple

• Fruit Hairy pods that house 2-4 beans

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SoybeansGlycine max

• Properties
• Soybeans contain
• 20 oil
• 34-36 protein
• These factors control the economic value of soy
  beans

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SoybeansGlycine maxUses

• Oil
• Food grade oil
• Soaps
• Solvents
• Cosmetics
• primary feedstock for biodiesel
• Meal
• Primary livestock protein supplement (up to
  50CP)
• Hulls provide fiber in livestock feed

• Flour
• Human protein sources
• Tofu
• Soy milk
• Protein supplements
• Other
• Fermented to Soy sauce
• Feedstock for some vodka
• Bio-plastics
• Textile fibers

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SoybeansGlycine maxProduction

• Full season crop
• Requires
• long growing season
• ample moisture
• Shorter season varieties developed
• Produced acceptably in Northern ND and Huntley
  Experiment station (photo) and Miles City
• Can be grown under irrigation in river valley of
  Eastern MT
• Variety selection is important in production

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SoybeansGlycine maxProduction seed preparation

• Soybean fix nitrogen
• Inoculation is necessary
• Respond well to fertilization
• P and occasionally N (based on soil)
• Very susceptible to frost
• Planted around May 10-25
• Seeded in moist soil 1-1.5 deep
• Seeding rate of 150,000 plants/acre
• lbs/acre varies with seed size in varieties

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SoybeansGlycine maxProduction risk control

• Irrigation is necessary in Montana
• Weed control in the first 2-4 weeks is essential
  for high yields
• Both tillage and herbicide practices
• Soybean Aphids
• Rotation and insecticide treatment
• Disease
• Proper rotation

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Soybeans Glycine maxProduction harvest

• Direct combining is recommended
• Swathing is possible but increases loss
• Beans are harvested at 14 moisture
• Modification of combines to run lower to the
  ground than for wheat is needed