(UPDATED 2024) Soybeans Production Made Simple: Guide on Requirements, Yield, Soil pH, Spacing, Fertilization, and Pest & Diseases.

SEED REQUIREMENTS

* About 100kgs of seed per hectare, to achieve a plant population of 300 000 - 450 000 plants per hectare.

YIELD

* 2 - 4 tonnes per hectare. Higher yields can be achieved with Good Agronomic Practices (GAPS). It is highly recommended that seed should be innoculated with Rhizobium bacteria at planting.

SOIL  pH

* Very sensitive to soil acidity, and for maximum yields the pH must be at least 5.5

SPACING

* 45-50cm

* Do not plant seed deeper than 5 cm

FERTILIZATION

A general recommendation is to apply a pre-plant application of 200 to 300 kg per ha of either a basal fertiliser Gypsum or Single Super Phosphate.

PESTS AND DISEASES

* Grasses- Alachlor/Laso 3 - 4lt per hectare.  Pre-emergent to both the weed and the crop. Galant Super 0.6 - 2.4lt per hectare. Post emergent to annual and perrenial grasses

* Mainly B/L Weeds- Metribuzin 48 EC, 0.6 - 1.0L per hectare.  Pre - emergent to both the weed and crop. Pursuit/Imazethapyr 700 mls per hectare. Post emergent to grasses and B/L weeds, supression of sedges.

* Cutworms-  Lambda Cyalothrin 200mls per hectare . Apply as a band spray at planting or over row after germination

* Aphids only-  Dimethoate 800 - 1000 mls per hectare. Apply as a full cover spray, repeat as necessary

* Boll worms, Caterpillars, Semi Loopers, Snout Beetle- Carbaryl 85, 750 grams per hectare.  Apply as a full cover spray, repeat as necessary. Decis forte 125mls per hectare. Repeat as necessary after flowering

* Frog eye - Tebuconazole 500mls per hectare.  Apply at the onset of disease infection, repeat as necessary

* Soya bean Rust- Propiconazole/Tilt 500mls per hectare. Apply at 50, 70 & 90 days after planting,