How to Grow Soybean – Complete Guide

Soybean cultivation can be successfully done on most types of soil (except very light or sandy soils), especially where proper drainage is available – particularly on smooth loamy soils. Fields where water stagnates are unsuitable for soybean farming.

This comprehensive guide explains soybean farming in simple English, keeping farmers in mind, so you can get maximum yield and profit from this crop.

1. Land Selection & Preparation

Soil Type and Drainage

• Suitable Soil: Soil where water does not stagnate, loose and friable, is best for soybean.
• Drainage: Poor drainage negatively affects the crop. Proper slopes or drainage channels should be made if needed.
• Land Preparation:
   – Do summer plowing at least once in 3 years.
   – After rainfall begins, prepare the field with 2–3 plowings and harrowing, which also destroys pest stages.
   – Conduct the last harrowing and leveling on time to remove germinated weeds.
   – If possible, sow on raised beds or ridges, which help with moisture retention and drainage.

2. Improved Varieties and Seed Rate

Recommended Varieties

Variety	Maturity Duration	Average Yield (Q/ha)
Pratishtha	100–105 days	20–30
J.S. 335	95–100 days	25–30
P.K. 1024	110–120 days	30–35
M.A.U.S. 47	85–90 days	20–25
NRC 7 (Ahilya‑3)	100–105 days	25–30
NRC 37	95–100 days	30–35
M.A.U.S.‑81	93–96 days	22–30
M.A.U.S.‑93 15	90–95 days	20–25

Seed Rate (per acre)

• Small-grain varieties: 28 kg
• Medium-grain varieties: 32 kg
• Large-grain varieties: 40 kg

Selecting the right variety and correct seed rate ensures good germination and healthy crop growth.

3. Seed Treatment and Culture Application

Seed Treatment

• To prevent seed and soil-borne diseases, treat seeds with:
   • Thiram / Captan – 2 g per kg of seed
   • Or Carbendazim / Thiofanate-methyl – 1 g per kg of seed
• Alternative: Trichoderma 4 g + Carbendazim 2 g per kg of seed

Culture Application

• After chemical treatment, treat seeds with 5 g Rhizobium and 5 g PSB culture per kg of seed
• Keep treated seeds in shade and sow immediately
• Do not mix chemical fungicide and bio-culture together

4. Sowing Time, Method, and Intercropping

Sowing Time & Method

• Best time: Last week of June to first week of July
• Soil should have adequate moisture up to 10 cm depth
• If sowing after first week of July, increase seed rate by 5–10%
• Row spacing:
   • For small varieties: 30 cm
   • For large varieties: 45 cm
   • Leave a gap after every 20 rows for drainage and moisture conservation
• Sowing depth: 2.5–3 cm

Intercropping

Suitable intercrops with soybean:

• Pigeon pea + soybean (2:4)
• Sorghum + soybean (2:2)
• Maize + soybean (2:2)
• Sesame + soybean (2:2)

These combinations help maintain soil fertility and increase overall farm income.

5. Nutrient Management (Fertilizers & Organic Inputs)

Organic Manure & Fertilizers

• At final plowing, mix 2 tons well-decomposed farmyard manure per acre
• Fertilizers at sowing:
   • Nitrogen (N): 8 kg
   • Phosphorus (P): 32 kg
   • Potash (K): 8 kg
   • Sulfur (S): 8 kg
• Adjust quantities based on soil testing
• Prefer NADEP or Phospho-compost where possible
• Apply chemical fertilizers in ridges at 5–6 cm depth
• Zinc requirement:
   • Deep black soil: 25 kg/acre
   • Shallow soil: 10 kg/acre
   – Apply after 5–6 crops

Proper nutrient management ensures healthy growth and higher yields.

6. Weed Management

• Weed control during the first 30–40 days is crucial
• Harrow or rotavator can be used to control weeds after germination
• Chemical herbicides:
   • Grass and broadleaf weeds: Quizalofop-ethyl 400 ml/acre, Imazethapyr 300 ml/acre
   • Pre-sowing: Fluchloralin 800 ml/acre
   • Pre-emergence: Alachlor 1.6 L/acre, Pendimethalin 1.2 L/acre, Metolachlor 800 ml/acre
• Granular Alachlor: 8 kg/acre is also effective
• Ensure adequate moisture and friability for herbicide effectiveness

7. Irrigation Management

• Soybean is a rainfed Kharif crop, generally requiring no irrigation
• If soil moisture is low in September, give 1–2 light irrigations
• Irrigation at pod formation helps increase yield

8. Pest and Disease Management

Pest Control

Major pests: Blue beetle, leaf-eating caterpillars, stem fly, girdle beetle, etc.

• Can reduce yield by 5–50%

Agronomic measures:

• Summer plowing
• Avoid pre-monsoon sowing
• Complete sowing quickly after monsoon
• Keep field debris-free
• Intercrop with sorghum or maize
• Keep ridges clean

Chemical control:

• Seed treatment: Thiamethoxam 70 WS, 3 g/kg seed
• Early germination:
   • Quinalphos 1.5%
   • Methyl parathion 2%
• Spray 300–325 liters of water per acre
• First spray: 25–30 days, second: 40–45 days

Common pesticides:

Pesticide	Quantity/acre
Chlorpyrifos 20 EC	600 ml
Quinalphos 25 EC	600 ml
Ethion 50 EC	600 ml
Triazophos 40 EC	320 ml
Ethofenprox 40 EC	400 ml
Methomyl 10 EC	400 ml
Neem seed extract 5%	15 kg
Thiamethoxam 25 WG	40 g

Biological control:

• B.T. or Beauveria bassiana 400 g/ml/acre
• NPV 250 LE (dissolved in 200 L water)
• Rotate with chemical pesticides for better effectiveness

Disease Control

• Seed treatment: Carbendazim + Thiram
• Fungal leaf diseases: Carbendazim 50 WP or Thiofanate-methyl 70 WP (0.05–0.1%)
   • Spray at 30–35 days and again at 40–45 days
• Bacterial disease (Pustule): Streptomycin 200 ppm + Copper oxychloride 0.2%
• Rust-prone regions: Use resistant varieties and fungicides like Hexaconazole, Propiconazole, Oxycarboxin, Triadimefon
• Viral diseases (Yellow Mosaic, White Fly):
   • Use disease-free seeds
   • Control vectors like aphids and thrips
   • Treat seeds with Thiamethoxam 70 WS 3 g/kg
   • Remove infected plants
• Neem extract: Effective for defoliator control

9. Harvesting and Threshing

• Harvest when most leaves have dried and 10% pods turn brown
• Depending on variety, harvest timing varies (e.g., Punjab 1: 4–5 days, others: 10 days)
• After harvesting, dry bundles for 2–3 days
• Once fully dry, thresh the crop using thresher, tractor, bullocks, or wooden beating
• For seed preservation, use wooden beating, which maintains seed viability

10. Benefits and Challenges

Benefits

• High potential profit with moderate investment
• Demand is high for food and oilseed crops
• Intercropping and proper nutrient management maintain soil fertility
• Farmers can benefit from improved seeds and biological pest control

Challenges

• Pests and diseases can cause heavy losses if neglected
• Poor drainage fields are risky
• Neglect of fertilizer management or soil testing affects economics
• Unexpected weather changes can damage crops

Additional Information and Government Resources

If you want more information about soil testing, fertilizer recommendations, or crop nutrition management, you can visit the official website run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India
🔗 Soil Health Portal – Government of India

On this portal, you will find:

• Facility to view the Soil Health Card of your land
• Crop-wise fertilizer recommendations
• State-wise agricultural expert advice
• Useful information related to organic farming

FAQs

1. What type of soil is suitable for soybean?
Well-drained, loose loamy soil is ideal; very light or sandy soils are unsuitable.

2. Best sowing time?
Last week of June to first week of July.

3. Recommended seed rate?
Small varieties: 28 kg/acre, Medium: 32 kg/acre, Large: 40 kg/acre.

4. How to treat seeds?
Use Thiram / Captan 2 g or Carbendazim / Thiofanate-methyl 1 g per kg of seed.

5. What is intercropping?
Growing soybean along with crops like pigeon pea, maize, sorghum, or sesame.

6. How to manage weeds?
Harrow or rotavator in first 30–40 days; chemical herbicides for broadleaf or grassy weeds.

7. How to control pests?
Agronomic practices + chemical/biological pesticides.

8. Which fungicides to use?
Carbendazim, Thiofanate-methyl, Hexaconazole, Propiconazole.

9. When to harvest soybean?
When leaves have dried and 10% of pods turn brown.

10. Is light irrigation needed?
Yes, 1–2 light irrigations in September if soil moisture is low.

11. How to use biological control?
Use B.T., Beauveria bassiana, or NPV sprays during early pest stages.

12. Crop protection strategy?
Timely plowing, sowing, pest/disease management, nutrient management, and proper drainage.

Conclusion

By following the right practices from land preparation to harvesting, you can achieve high yields and good profits from soybean. Proper nutrient management, pest and disease control, irrigation, and improved seeds are key to a healthy crop.

Dear farmers of India, embrace new technologies, improved seeds, and scientific guidance. Work hard, stay updated, and your crop will reward you with prosperity.

Jai Kisan!