Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most valuable legume species. In addition to the wide use of soybean seeds in the food and feed industry, the cultivation of this species is also of significant agronomic importance – it has a positive effect on soil fertility.
Soybean roots live in symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodule bacteria. Therefore, before sowing, seeds are treated with seed treatment products containing these bacteria.
Soybean takes large amounts of nutrients from soil. Thanks to co-existence with nodule bacteria, it has the ability to fix free nitrogen from the air. With abundant nodulation, nitrogen bacteria provide soybean plants up to 100 kg N/ha. Thanks to this, soil nitrogen fertilization is limited to the starting dose, usually 20–30 kg N/ha.
Soybean responses very well to foliar fertilization. In case of macroelements, it is complementary to soil applied fertilizer treatments, while in case of microelements is the most effective way to provide them to plants. Of the macroelements, sulfur (S) is of particular importance which is supplied to plants by foliar treatment with PLONVIT® SULVIT fertilizer. Sulfur is a component of nitrate reductase and nitrogenase, which are involved in nitrogen transformations, making it available to plants. Stimulates growth and activity of root nodules, which has a positive effect on the fixing free atmospheric nitrogen.
Soybean has significant nutritional requirements for microelements – their composition, in proportions corresponding to the nutritional requirements of soybean, provides foliar fertilizer PLONVIT® LEGUMES.
The most important trace elements for soybean are:
- boron (B) – stimulates growth and activity of root nodules, has a positive effect on the development of shoots, leaves, flowers, seed formation and the number of pods – MIKROVIT® BORON TURBO, MIKROVIT® BORON PLUS, MIKROVIT® BORON
- molybdenum (Mo) – has a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and root nodules. It is a component of the enzyme nitrogenase, which participates in the reaction of the transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium ions, which are then transformed into aminoacids necessary for building proteins – MIKROVIT® MOLYBDENUM
- zinc (Zn) – directly affects the development of shoots and flower buds, and later on the quality of pollen – AMINO ULTRA® Zn-24, MIKROCHELAT™ Zn-15, MIKROVIT® ZINC
- cobalt (Co) is involved in the transformation of mineral nitrogen into amino acids, and next to proteins – PLONVIT® LEGUMES
- manganese (Mn) plays an important role in photosynthesis, it is involved in the effective use of nitrogen and activation of enzymes that directly affect the development of pods. Also, it has a positive effect on the protein content in seeds. Manganese should be provided to soybean plants only in foliar treatments – AMINO ULTRA® Mn-22, MIKROCHELAT™ Mn-13, MIKROVIT® MANGANESE. Manganese cannot be used by soil fertilization because it is toxic to Bradyrhizobium bacteria.
The good condition of plants throughout the growing season determines the yield of soybean.
Even short-term nutrient deficiency may have a negative impact on plant growth and yield. Therefore, it is necessary comprehensive assessment of the requirements of the plants at any stage of their development. This will allow them to be fed properly and bio-stimulate them.
INTERMAG’s wide range of products, allows you to develop your own individual foliar fertilization and biostimulation program, considering local soil conditions, crop intensity, stage of plant development and availability of various products.
All of these discussed actions significantly affect the yield increase and its quality parameters.
