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* SDYBEAN PRDDUBTICI

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RECOMMENDED
SOYB E A N

VARIETIES

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Figure 1. Varieties oi soybeans recommended for the irrigated sections oi Texas.
Soybeans are not recommended in the Blackland area because of the cotton root-rot
disease.

A/aaenafia r952

TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATICDN

R. D. _L.EWIS. DIRECTOR, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

DIGEST

Soybeans have been grown in Texas for more than 4D years, but have not
become an important crop although their potential value is recognized. The
financial success or failure of soybean production in Texas depends on a
good competitive relationship with other major field crops. This relationship
may be improved greatly with the development of better adapted varieties,
the use of better production methods and the development of adequate
marketing facilities.

Soybeans can be grown in most irrigated sections of Texas. In areas of
higher rainfall, such as East Texas, yields are inconsistent under dryland
conditions, and the crop is not recommended unless irrigation facilities are
available.

Average yields under irrigation are approximately 25 bushels per acre,
but some relatively large plantings have produced 30 to 40 bushels per acre.
At this level of production, soybeans do not give as much cash return as does
grain sorghum. Soybeans, however, are valuable in a soil-improving rotation.
and weed control following soybeans is not as serious a problem as following
grain sorghum. Recent increasing interest in soybean production may be
justified by considering all the factors involved rather than yield comparisons
alone.

Soybeans are grown principally for seed, which are used to produce
soybean oil and meal. Most of the meal is used in livestock feed while the
oil is used in shortening, tmargarine and salad oil, with portions being used
for industrial purposes.

Hydraulic press, expeller or screw press and solvent-extraction are used
in processing soybeans for oil and meal. The solvent-extraction method is
the most efficient, and about 95 percent of the soybeans produced are processed
by this method. As soybean production becomes more widespread in Texas
and the need for processing facilities increases. many oil mills that now process
only cottonseed could be converted to handle both seed.

Soybeans are adapted to about the same soil and climatic conditions as
corn or cotton. They do best on well drained, mellow, fertile and sandy loams,
but good results can be obtained on most properly-drained soils, if water is
available for supplemental irrigation.

Lee is the most important soybean variety in Texas, primarily because of
its-high degree of shatter and disease resistance. Lee occupies more than 9O
percent of the soybean acreage in the State. Other varieties used for seed
production include Ogden, Dorman, Iackson and Improved Pelican.

Soybeans generally are planted in 36 to 42-inch rows at a rate to give
1U to l2 plants per foot of row. The date of seeding soybeans is important
because of the sensitivity of the plants to day length and temperature.
Optimum planting dates occur when the minimum soil temperature is above
65° F. and after the day length reaches 141/2 hours. These planting requirements
are met between May I5 and Iune 15 in all areas of the State.

Soybeans should be harvested when fully mature, but before the first pods
begin to shatter. As the plant approachesmaturity, the leaves turn yellow
and drop from the plant naturally. Defoliating soybeans with chemicals to
hasten maturity reduces the yield and the quality of the bean.

Several leaf-eating insects may damage soybeans. These include the bean
leaf beetle, legume caterpillar, corn earworm, green cloverworm and fall
armyworm. Most insect damage occurs in August and September. Periodic
checks for excessive damage should be made. When material loss from
insects is suspected, the local county agricultural agent should be contacted
for information on insect control.

(‘s

CONTENTS

Digest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Economics of Production 

Processing and Utilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. I
Selecting a Variety......................."..
Variety Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-
Discussion of Varieties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Production Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Preparing the Seedbed . . . . . . . .g . . . . . . . . .5

Seed and Seeding Practices . . . . . . . . . . 
Planting Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .;v

Methods of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

Date of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . .

Rate of Seeding 
Depth of Seeding . . .

Seed Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Inoculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

Fertilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cultivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'

Harvesting..............................;

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Soybeans for Hay . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Soybeans in Rotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Insects and Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .»

Literature Cited . . . .

‘t; I

    
   
   
   
 
  
 
    
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
    
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

JOYBEAN, Glycine 11240:, is
 0f the oldest crops grown
was cultivated extensively
__ early as 3,000 B.C. (11),1
 introduced into the United
 1804. Even though it
‘zed as a plant adapted for
 the soybean long was re-
Qe as a botanical curiosity
 of much economic im-
 The U. S. Department of
i“, in 1898 began introducing
l“ ' varieties from Asiatic
 Increases of acreage and
 in this country have been
closely with the introduction
 and their im rovement
_ ection and bree ing.

 have found a permanent
, seed and forage crop in
ing systems, especially in
l. half of the United States
 first the acreage of soy-
liested for hay was larger
reage harvested for beans.
. a has been true since 1935
if} Belt States and since 1941
ed States as a whole. Soy-
‘pf; for forage has continued
, but the acreage for com-
 g production has increased
ly. Ninety percent of the
es soybean acreage in 1948
ed for seed.

,1: have not become important
‘although the potential value
5- is recognized. The finan-
k or failure of soybeans in
§depends on several factors.
itoduction should have a
Apetitive relationship with
_r field crops. Better pro-
i) ods and adapted varieties
 developed before this re-
i} can be greatly improved.
roduction is new to most
d, as with any new crop,
ucation and promotion pro-
at. d be Qcarried on so that
i; rfiay benefit from the
f ch information. In addi-

i, assistant professor and ex-
‘ nomist, Department of Agron-

iin parentheses refer to litera-

It. D. Staten and It. J. H0dues*

tion, suitable marketing facilities for
soybean seed need to be developed
simultaneously with production.

Experimental plantings of soybeans
on various field research units in Tex-
as have been grown for more than 40
years (1, 2). Results in the early
years were generally disappointing.
Varieties evaluated in early tests shat-
tered easily, were highly susceptible
to disease and, in many cases, were
not adapted for use in the South.
Soybean plants are relished by rab-
bits and small trial plantings frequent-
ly were destroyed.

Soybean breeding programs at vari-
ous experiment stations in the South
in recent years have developed va-
rieties that are resistant to shattering
and which produce beans that do not
shrivel when subjected to the high
temperatures of late summer. Some
soybean varieties in use today are
better adapted to Texas growing con-
ditions than was true formerly.

The use of supplemental irrigation
in crop production is increasing. Irri-
gated soybean production is in a more
favorable competitive relationship with
other crops than is dryland production.
At present, two Texas oil mills (at
Lubbock and Sherman) provide good
markets for soybeans in the major
areas of production. Interest in pro-
duction, processing and marketing of
soybeans is increasing in several other
areas of the State.

These and other recent develop-
ments have contributed to a renewed
interest in this crop and a re-evalua-
tion of its potential for profitable pro-
duction in Texas. Active testing pro-
grams are in progress at College Sta-
tion, Denton, Chillicothe, Lubbock
and Plainview.

ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION

Soybeans have been grown in Texas
for hay, green manure and soil im-
provement, but at present, the crop
is grown principally for seed. Some
25,000 to 30,000 acres of soybeans
were planted in Texas in 1956, with
most of the acreage on the<High
Plains. The soybean acreage in the

  SUYBEAN PREIDUBTIEIN a 361/115

State in 1957 was only about 20,000
because of poor planting conditions
in May and June, but the acreage
in 1958 was approximately 60,000.
This rapid increase in acreage reflects
the growing interest in the crop where
irrigation facilities are available.

Average yields under irrigation are
22 to 25 bushels per acre, with some
relatively large plantings averaging 50
to 40 bushels per acre (10). The
price for soybeans during 1956 and
1957, was about $2.00 per bushel,
compared with $1.50 per hundred
pounds being paid for grain sorghum
during the same period. On the basis
of prices farmers received for their
crops, a 25-bushel per acre yield of
soybeans would be comparable to a
3,000-pound per acre yield of grain
sorghum. Since irrigated grain sor-
ghum generally produces more than
3,000 pounds per acre, yields alone
would not establish the soybean crop
economically in Texas. Several factors
other than yield, however, favor soy-
bean production.

Soybeans are a new crop to most
Texas farmers, thus, their experiences
with this crop have varied. Most
farmers in 1956 made a higher cash
income per acre from planting grain
sorghum than from soybeans. A few
made as much money or more from
soybeans. Future yields from soy-
beans, however, are likely to increase
with better varieties and as farmers
gain experience in their production.

Soybeans are valuable in a soil-im-
proving rotation. Several West Texas
farmers, who have, used soybeans in
their cropping system for several years,
generally have found that yields of
cotton are increased one-fourth to half
a bale per acre when cotton follows
this legume instead of grain sorghum.
Soybeans have an outstanding ability
to loosen and mellow the surface soil.
This favorable soil conditioning effect
is due partially to root action and
shading of the ground by the vegeta-
tive canopy of the bushy plants. Such
tilth improvement is of particular
value on heavy clay, clay loam and
silty clay loam soils.

TABLE 1.

YIELD OF SOYBEAN OIL AND SOYBEAN MEAL OBTAINED PER ‘BUSHEL

OF SOYBEANS BY THREE METHODS OF PROCESSING‘

Soybean oil, pounds

Soybean meal. pounds

Year

Solvent Expeller Hydraulic Solvent Expeller Hydraulic
1948 10.67 8.86 8.46 46.33 48.14 48.54
1949 10.94 9.16 8.67 46.06 47.84 48.33
1950 10.73 8.96 8.38 46.27 48.04 48.62
1952 10.52 8.57 8.39 46.48 48.43 48.61
1953 11.11 9.11 8.11 45.89 47.89 48.89
Average 10.79 8.93 8.40 46.21 48.07 48.60

‘Yield figures represent national averages for all varieties.

Any harvested crop tends to deplete
the soil of its mineral elements and
organic matter. Soybeans are no ex-
ception. However, returning all the
soybean crop residue left by the com-
bine to the soil reduces the organic

,matter and mineral element losses to

a minimum. This crop residue left
on the land, in addition, effectively
increases surface water intake and re-
duces soil erosion losses.

Leguminous plants, such as soy-
beans, add to the available nitrogen
of the soil and are effective in restor-
ing soils deficient in nitrogen. Vigor-
ous soybean plants produce an abun-
dance of nitrogen-bearing root nodules
with about two-thirds of this nitrogen
obtained from the air and the remain-
der from the soil. Well-inoculated
soybean plants that are harvested for
beans usually increase the total nitro-
gen content of the soil about 16
pounds per acre if all of the plant
residue is left on the ground. The
net gain in total nitrogen is not large,
but much of the total soil nitrogen
is in the nitrate form which is avail-

"able readily to crops following soy-

beans in a rotation. Winter legumes
usually are not successful in North
and West Texas as soil-improving
crops because of the short spring
growing season before they must be
turned under prior to cotton planting.
Thus, for the first time, these areas of
the State have the possibility of grow-
ing a good soil-improving legume crop
that provides a source of cash income.

Volunteer sorghum plants and the
annual weed problem in general in-
creases the cost of production when
cotton is planted after the grain crop.
A rotation of grain sorghum, soybeans
and then cotton places cotton (the
major cash crop) in position to get
the maximum benefit from following
the legume crop. A dense growth of
soybeans reduces the development of
annual weeds and grasses that usually
grow after sorghum has its last culti-

4

vation. The competitive nature of the
soybean plant and the widespread use
of the rotary hoe in early cultivations
of soybeans practically eliminate vol-
unteer sorghum plants.

PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION

Most soybeans in the United States
are grown for seed, which are used
in the production of oil and meal.
Most of the meal is used for livestock
feed, though its use in food and in-
dustrial products is increasing (12).
The oil is used principally in shorten-
ings, margarine and salad oils, with
portions used for industrial purposes.

The value of soybeans as a high
protein feed for livestock is indicated
by extensive feeding trials in all parts
of the United States. Soybeans can
be used as a protein supplement to
partially replace the more expensive
commercial protein concentrates neces-
sary for stock feeding and milk pro-
duction. The soybean is the cheapest
source of vegetable protein available
to the farmer. It contains 35 to 45
percent protein, which compares favor-
ably with the protein content of other
concentrated feeds.

The beans can be fed whole to sheep
and hogs, but it is better to grind
them. Soybeans should be fed in mix-
tures with other feeds because of their
high protein content. Practical expe-
rience shows it is advisable to mix the
beans with corn, oats or other grain
and then grind them into meal. The
beans are difficult to grind alone be-
causeof their high oil content.

Soybean oil is highly important in
the domestic and international vege-
table-oil supply and economy, and the
soybean now competes with other oil
seed on the world market. Soybeans
were first processed for oil about 1910
( 12). Although many efforts had
been made to interest cottonseed oil
mills in the South in processing do-
mestic-grown soybeans for oil and

  
     
  
  
   
    

       
  

meal, no extensive work was F
until 1915. Soybean processing
came established as an industry in
early 1920’s. Most processors ~
ated on a small scale until about 1
By 1936, about 5O percent of
U. S. soybean production was r
essed by oil mills. Processing h 1
creased rapidly since 1936. So
processing millsf-in the U. S. in 1
had a total capacity of more than
million bushels annually. a

Hydraulic pressing, expeller or ~
tinuous pressing (screw press)
solvent extraction are used com -
in processing soybeans for oil
meal. Hydraulic pressing, the »
economical method, is limited a
entirely to mills engaged in proce
cottonseed or flaxseed. Screw p
handled about 74 percent of the
beans processed and solvent extra
about 23 percent in 1940-41.
1954, (17) it was estimated tha
percent of the soybean production
processed by the solvent-extra
method, 5 percent by the ex
method and 1 percent by hydr
processors. i

Table 1 shows the average yiel
oil and meal by the different ~-
essing methods as determined by
USDA and the Bureau of Ce
The meal yields were obtained by
tracting oil yield from an arbitrary
pound per bushel combined '
Presumably, because of economic,
sons or obsolescence of the 0
plants, or both, the shift to the,
vent extraction method will event
come even nearer 100 percent.

Soybeans can be processed with‘
facilities ordinarily used for n’
ing cottonseed, but the resulting
bean oil is "marginal,” low-quality
with certain restrictions placed on
use. The yield of soybean oil
bushel of beans is considerably
when mechanical presses are used.
soybean production becomes
widespread in Texas and the i,
for processing facilities incrc
many oil mills in the State that r
process only cottonseed could be i
vetted easily to handle both soy
and cottonseed efficiently.

“Soybean products” are a third
sult from the processing of soyb
These products result from fu
refinement of the oil and meal. T
2 presents some of the many prod
that result from the processing
soybeans. ‘

  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
   
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  

= ADAPTATION

 can be grown successfully
‘a sections of Texas. Most
.| ercial acreage harvested
a on the High Plains. Prof-
l- of soybeans have been
jin the Red River Valley,
alleys of the East Texas
‘i- and the eastern part of
Prairie, under dryland con-
 ven in these areas, profit-
, under dryland conditions
fstent and have limited the
minor role.

 are adapted to about the
 l soil and climatic condi-
ai_'l"exas as corn or cotton.
{best on well-drained, mel-
e loams and sandy loams,
a results can be obtained
 of the Texas soils that
Sly drained and that have
gailable for supplemental
 After the plants are well
 growth is not retarded
L- a wet season. During the
r-of the growing cycle (from
" to flowering), the soybean
 erant of prolonged periods
than cotton. During the
“and fruit development per-
".~ er, a shortage of moisture
_- ly decrease the yield of

 I investigators have found
i. e to be second only to mois-
' environmental factor affect-
jrowth and development pf
__ I plant and the composition
 Howell and Weiss et a!

__ controlled day and night
Q es, found that day tempera-
jjing the pod-filling period
 marked effect on the oil
E15» the seed. Increasing clay
lres from 70 to 85°F. in-
We oil content of the seed, but
~ effect on the protein or
i ntent. Extremely high tem-
i of 98 to 100°F. for 2 weeks
p reduction in the growth
Fe plant. Optimum tempera-
§seed set in these experiments
1- 90°F., with a rapid decline
i t ber of pods set and a rapid
1 in theqnumber of flowers
ias the "temperature rose to
t" In these studies, moisture
4 ate at all times and the
I res constant during day and
 igh temperatures in soybean
g ing periods of drouth may
erent results.

I using growth chambers with p

Studies at College Station (14) in-
dicate that pod set was increased dur-
ing periods of relatively cool tempera-
tures and relatively high humidity.
Only two favorable pod setting pe-
riods occurred during the flowering
period in 1955; The first period
lasted for 4 days and the second period
for only 1 day. Except for these two
periods, almost all the flowers that
opened, aborted and fell to the ground
within 24 to 48 hours. The percent-
age pod set in 1957 was increased by
erecting an artificial shade over cer-
tain plots to reduce the daytime tem-
peratures 5 to 10°F. These studies
appear to confirm the growth cham-
ber experiments with temperature.

Soybeans are sensitive to photo-
period, or day length, and it has been
necessary to classify varieties and
strains into broad maturity groups for
testing and evaluation. The varieties
grown in the United States are divided
into nine maturity groups, O through
VIII. Groups O and I contain va-
rieties that will mature under the rela-

tively long days encountered during
the summer in the Northern States,
while group VIII is best adapted in
the Gulf Coast States. Varieties grown
in Texas and the other Southern States
are included in groups IV, V, VI, VII
and VIII. Promising breeder lines
and commercial varieties of all ma-
turity groups are made available to
cooperating states for evaluation
through the regional testing program
of the USDA and certain other state
agricultural experiment stations.

SELECTING A VARIETY

Several factors should be considered
when selecting a variety. The most
important are adaptation to local cli-
matic and soil conditions and the pur-
pose for which the crop is grown.
Though the yield of forage or seed
may be the most important" single
consideration, date of maturity, habit
of growth, resistance\to seed shatter-
ing and shriveling, disease resistance,
seed color and size of seed are im-
portant factors. When the production
is primarily for oil, meal or other food

TABLE 2. PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM PROCESSING SOYBEANS

Crude soybean oil

Soybean meal

Refined Soybean Oil (Non-edible)

Calking compound
Candles
Disinfectants
Electrical insulation
Insecticides
Lighting oil
Linoleum

Oil cloth

Paints

Putty

Resins

Soaps

Varnishes
Wallboard
Waterproof cement
Printing ink

Refined Soybean Oil (Edible)

Cooking oil
Mayonnaise
Oleomargarine
Hormones

Sterols

Salad dressing
Sandwich spread
Lard compounds
Vegetable oils and shortening
Pharmaceuticals

Others

Cosmetics

Candy

Bakery products
Anti-knock gasoline
Greases

Munitions

Adhesive tape
Shaving compounds
Emulsitiers

Carbon paper

Animal Feed

Soybean flakes
Soybean pellets
Fish food

Pet food

Dairy feed
Vitamin carriers
Poultry feed
Hog feed

Human Consumption

Soy flakes
Soy flour
Soy grits
Soy meats
Macaroni
Pancakes
Sausages
Diabetic food
Frozen dessert
Infant foods
Spice base
Spaghetti
Puddings
Soups

Others

Beta protein

Alpha protein
Bonding adhesive
Amino acids

Paper coatings

Textile sizing

Board coatings

Water emulsion paints
Food flavoring

Fire extinguishers
Fountain marshmallow
Fertilizer

Wallpaper paste
Linoleum backing
Medicines

Figure 2. Characteristic growth of Lee
soybeans. The variety is medium tall,
somewhat bushy and has good seed-
holding ability, resulting in high seed
production.

q

products, the percentage of oil and
protein and the color of seed become
increasingly important. "

Many varieties have been developed
and several thousand introductions
have been tested since the USDA
started work on soybeans about 1898.
The organization of the Regional
Soybean Laboratory in 1936 stimu-
lated the development and testing of
new varieties. The primary objective
in this development work has been to
obtain high seed-yielding strains and
varieties with a high oil and protein
content. Yellow-seeded varieties are
desired for commercial seed produc-
tion. Color of seed is not important
when soybeans are used for forage
purposes.

A summary of the plant character-
istics of the major soybean varieties
grown in variety trials in Texas is
given in Table 3. These descriptions
are based on those given in recent
USDA publications (6, 16) and recent

information obtained from cooperat-
Figure 1
gives the varieties recommended for
the various areas of the State.

ing experiment stations.

  
 
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
   
 
  
  
   
   
 

VARIETY TESTS p

Average seed yields of vari
tested in Texas during 1943-54 
given in Tables 4 and 5. Tests
College Station, Denton and C i
cothe were conducted under dryl
conditions, the test at Lubbock 
irrigated. All varieties were i
grown each year ;,_*therefore, one
variety in eachsrniqiéturity group was
lected to obtain a more accurate 
for comparisons. i

In general, the average yields f
acre of soybeans have been so low,
gardless of the variety used, that
crop cannot be considered a profit
one in Texas under dryland conditi
Table 4. Yields during this pe:
at Chillicothe were below 15 bus
and some years yields as low as
bushels were obtained. Yields
Denton were below 15 bushels 4
complete crop failures were frequ
The range of yields at College St r
was 4 to 27 bushels, with consider,
year-to-year variation. The hi
yields, 2O to 3O bushels, obtained,’
College Station compare favor
with those in regions where the c

   
 

TABLE 3. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOYBEAN VARIETIES FOR OIL INCLUDED IN THE TRIALS
. Color characteristics ‘
gffltgtfifd origin P b S d Seed Protein, on. Seed Ye»
Q _ ee _ O 0° l ‘
variety Flower 6211:: coat Hllum per pod A, per pound re eas
E  
Gibson Midwest x Dunlield White Gray Yellow Buff 2-3 41.9 20.4 3900 _
Wabash Dunfield x Mansey White Gray Yellow Light- 2-3 40.3 21.0 3200 1948 g
t brown _
Perry Patoka x L7-1355 Purple Gray Yellow Gray to 2-3 41.5 21.7 3000 1951 .-
black '
Clark Lincoln (2) x Richland Purple Brown Yellow Black 2-3 40.0 21.7 3100 1953 ’
v   i
Sjl00 Rogue from plot of Illini White Gray Yellow Light- 2-3 42.2 19.0 3400 1948
‘ brown '
Dortchsoy 67 Macoupin x Ogden White gray Yellow Buff 2-3 39.4 20.7 3900 1951 
Dorman Dunfield x Arksoy 2913 White ray Yellow Light- 2-3 40.1 21.4 3700 1952 _
brown 5'
D53-526 D632-15 x D49-2525 White Brown Yellow Brown 2-3 40.0 21.8 3300 1958 
‘L1 .
Arksoy 2913 PI 37335 (Korea 1914) White Gray Yellow Brown 2-3 44.6 19.6 3700
Ogden Tokyo x P154610 » " Purple Gray Green Light- 2-3 43.4 20.5 3200 1940 i
  brown e v
Lee S-100 x CNS!“ 9 Purple Tawny - Yellow Gray to 2-3 41.9 20.8 3500 1954 e
' ' ‘ ' black .-
Hood Roanoke x N45-745 Purple Gray Yellow Buff 2-3 40.0 21.8 3300 1958 
Y}! a i
Volstate Tokyo x PI 54610 White Gray Yellow Light- 2-3 40.7 20.9 3400
brown .
Roanoke Sel. from mixed seed lot White Gray Yellow Light- 2-3 40.1 21.8 3000 1945
brown
Iackson Volstate (2) x Palmetto White . Gray ‘Yellow Brown 2-3 40.4 21.7 3000 1953 '_
Yelnanda 53-116 Nanda x Yelredo Purple Gray Yellow Brown 2-3 43.5 18.8 2800 1946 -
I.E.W. 45 Sel. from mixed seed lot Purple Brown Yellow Brown 2 43.2 19.5 3000 1947
Maios 52-87 Tokyo x Yelredo White Gray Yellow Brown 2 42.1 19.7 2900 1949 
Imp. Pelican Tanloxi x PI 60406 Purple Tawny Yellow Brown 2-3 44.2 18.9 4400 1950 i

6

  
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
  

v rofitably, but low yields
_ requently that dryland pro-
YTexas is discouraged. Even
. e favorable moisture condi-
rumont and Angleton, soy-
p are extremely low in some

le yields of soybeans are ob-
i‘ more frequently when the
__ all is supplemented with
3' Table 5. Several varieties
average yields of 20 bushels
d yields of 50 bushels per
not uncommon at Lubbock
3-54. Soybean yields can
7' adversely by improper
_ irrigation water and this
p“ t for the relatively low
étlle early tests.

.-- soybean production in
 ing 1955-57, reported in
- and 7, further substantiates
tk. Extremely hot and dry
,_ prevailed during 1955-56,
J e normal rainfall was ob-
all locations in 1957. The
p- fall, however, was poorly
with little effective rain-
; y, August and September.
3y production at Denton
'c0the again was low and
I be considered profitable
:1 an above-normal moisture
 1957. Profitable yields
'ned at College Station in
“51116 3 years. The crop was
 failure at College Station
73- in 1956.

. a

f» studies were expanded

a 5-57 and production prac-
' improved. Somewhat bet-
1 were obtained. Irrigated
ts were initiated at College
f Plainview, and the Lub-
 was continued. Average
1 the High Plains——Lubbock
iew—were 20 to 35 bushels
i;- adapted varieties (9).
i‘ is range can be considered
L, and competitive with those
prom grain sorghum. Yields
 at College Station were
bushels, with the high yield
fbeing the highest recorded
i The irrigated beans in
 ere surrounded by dryland
\ mayghave reduced the re-
__ supplemental irrigation
“reduces.

I ION OF VARIETIES

 the most widely grown
f the South until recent years,
ell adapted to North and

TABLE 4.

AVERAGE AND COMPARABLE YIELDS PER ACRE OF SOYBEAN

VARIETIES GROWN UNDER DRYLAND CONDITIONS AT COLLEGE STATION.
DENTON AND CHILLICOTHE, 1943-54

College Station Chillicothe Denton
M t 't
353213.311‘ p “Qeggge Years Axjferfige Years “$35,118 Years
bushels tested bushels tested bushels tested

1v

nG-ibson 23.5 1 s z a 8.2 s
Wabash 1s.2 4 11 1 1 7.2 4
Perry 23.3 2 13 3 1 8.8 3
v1

Dorman 12.s (8.s)- 8 7.8 (s.s) 2 9.1 (11.0) 2
s-1oo 12.7 s 8.s 4 9.0 s
Dortchsoy s7 14.8 (11.8) 1 s.s (7.2) 1
v12

fZe 17.7 (14.4) 2 11.1 (s.s) 2 s.s (s.s) 1
Ogden 10.1 s 8.s 7 7.0 a
Arksoy 2918 8.s (12.7) 2 7.s (8.7) s s.8 (7.s) 2
E“

Roanoke 13.1 5 7.6 7

Volstate 8.8 (8.8) 2 8.8 (8.8) s

Iackson 9.4 (9.1) 3

fNumbers in parentheses are yields for S-100 when grown during same years.
INumbers in parentheses are yields ior Ogden when grown during same years.
"Numbers in parentheses are yields for Roanoke when grown during same years,“

Central Texas.

TABLE 5.

Ogden gives high
yields of seed and a good oil content.
Its moderate height makes it easy to
combine. Its heavy foliage helps keep
down late season weeds and grasses.
However, the seed of Ogden tend to
shatter after maturity, making timely
combining essential.
of the seedcoat also is objectionable

The green color

on the commercial market. Ogden is
classed in Group VI. It matures about
October 22 at Lubbock and a few days
earlier at College Station.

Lee, a new, superior group VI va-
riety, averages 5 days later than Og-
den and is superior to it in seed hold-
ing, disease resistance and yield, Fig-
ure 2. It is adapted to much of the

AVERAGE AND COMPARABLE YIELDS PER ACRE AND OTHER

AGRONOMIC DATA FOR SOYBEAN VARIETIES GROWN UNDER IRRIGATED
CONDITIONS AT LUBBOCK. 1943-54

Maturity

Average

Grams

Percent‘

. Height, Maturity Years
group and yield. . pe
variety bushels Inches 100 seed date Protein Oil tested

1L’

Gibson 18.7 26 14 9/16 40.6 21.2 6
Wabash 19.5 (21.5) 25 (23.3) 16 (15.5) 9/25 (9/22) 40.0 (39.5) 22.9 (21.9) 3
Perry 20.5 (21.5) 22 (23.3) 17 (15.5) 9/26 (9/22) 40.8 (39.5) 23.0 (21.9) 3
f

Dorman 15.8 (15.0) 18 (24.2) 14 (14.5) 10/8 (10/7) 39.5 (42.3) 21.8 (19.8) 5
S-100 17.0 28 15 10 6 43.0 19.4 11
Dortchsoy 67 14.4 (12.5) 18 (24.5) 15 (14.4) 10/5 (10/7) 38.9 (42.1) 21.8 (19.7) 4
‘E

Lee 16.6 (16.5) 26 (24.7) 14 (15.4) 10/27 (10/22) 40.9 (41.1) 21.4 (21.1) 4
Ogden 20.6 25 16 10/22‘ 41.1 21.1 11
Arksoy 2913 17.5 (22.9) 25 (25.0) 15 (16.9) 10/16 (10/21) 43.4 (41.1) 20.1 (21.1) 7
‘L115

Roanoke 15.1 30 15 11/5 39.9 21.9 5
Volstate 7.8 (9.0) 23 (29.0) 14 (15.0) 11/5 (11/14) 40.2 (39.9) 21.4 (21.8) 1
Iackson 15.3 (16.6) 32 (30.8) 15 (15.3) 10/29 (10/29) 40.3 (39.9) 21.5 (21.9) 4

‘Regional averages for percent protein and soil.

‘Numbers in parentheses are values for Gibson when grown during same years.
sNumbers in parentheses are values for S-100 when grown during same years.
‘Numbers in parentheses are values for Ogden when grown during same years.
fiNumbers in parentheses are values tor Roanoke when grown during same years.

7

TABLE 6.

AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE OF SOYBEANS PRODUCED ‘UNDER

DRYLAND CONDITIONS. AT COLLEGE STATION, DENTON AND CHILLICOTHE,

 

1955-57
Maturity College Station Denton Chillicothe
group and '
variety 1955 1957 1955 1957 1955 1956 1957

ll

Perry 7.5 5.8 6.0

Clark 10.7 8.0 5.2

‘L

Dorman 9.1 13.1 8.7 9.4 4.5

S-100 9.5 4.0
Dortchsoy 67 13.2 4.8

D53-526 8.6 12.9 6.1

Y1

Ogden 7.3 14.8 2.4 5.3
Lee 8.9 21.0 7.2 8.6 16.8 4.8 7.5
Hood 16.1 2.7 4.7
K11

(Iackson 28.1 12.2 2.4 3.5
Roanoke 2.3 12.3 3.2 4.1
Ylll

Imp. Pelican 25.0

same area as Ogden. Its superiority along with Ogden or Lee. It is ap-

in seed holding will eliminate losses
frequently experienced from shatter-
ing. Lee is resistant to the most com-
mon leaf disease found in the South
(bacterial pustule) to which all other
major varieties are susceptible. Lee
occupied 8O percent of the soybean
acreage in Texas in 1956 and is rapid-
ly replacing Ogden throughout the
South. On the High Plains, Lee may
be damaged by frost when early
freezes occur. Hood, a new soybean
variety known previously as strain
D51-4888, is comparable with Lee in
most respects and matures about 1
week earlier.

Dorman was released in 1952 as an
earlier variety (group V) to be grown

Figure 3. Characteristic growth of Dorman soybeans.
lap in the middles during the growing season.

proximately 2 weeks earlier than Og-
den and produces comparable yields
where adapted. Dorman gave good
results at Plainview and Lubbock and
fair results at College Station. It is
best adapted to the Panhandle region,
but is satisfactory further south when
one wishes to stagger his harvest sea-
son. Dorman produces good quality
seed with high oil content and does
not shatter as readily as Ogden. Its
heavy foliage is comparable with Og-
den, which helps control late season
weeds (Figure 5).

Dortc/omy 67 and S-JOO are group
V varieties that mature about the same
time as Dorman. These varieties pro-
duced yields comparable with Dorman,

but they are more subject to sha I
ing. A new strain of this same t
turity group, D53-526, has been
perior to other group V varieties 
yield and shatter resistance. St’
D53-526 has been tested for 3 y
an.d will be increased and released
1959 for the High Plains. i

Clark, W/abarbiland Perry are t
IV varieties primarily adapted to
diana, Illinois and Missouri. t,
can be grown on the northern H
Plains of Texas, but generally prod
about 2O percent less than Ogd
They are erect varieties, give
ground cover and late-season 
may become a problem before harv
When grown too far south, these
rieties produce poor seed qua i
Perry, Clark and Wabash mature a
1O to 14 days earlier than Dor I
or about September 25 to October

Roanoke is classified in group
and is approximately 2 weeks l,
than Ogden. Generally it is not
for harvest until the first week
November, and may be damaged p
maturely by frost in North Te i.
Roanoke is 6 to 8 inches taller I
Ogden and produces good seed yiel .
It has the highest oil content of J
variety in the United States. Roan‘
produces yields comparable with 0.
den, but considerably less than
at College Station.

[ac/awn was released in 1953 and‘
similar to Roanoke in maturity. Ia
son is slightly taller than Roano
stands better and has given sligh
higher seed yields. Its added hei
may be an advantage in areas wh
shorter varieties tend to produce th
pods near the ground, Figure 4.

 

The variety is short and bushy (left) and plants generally I
Pods hold their seed fairly well but are set low on the plant, (right).

  

<  AVERAGE YIELDS PER ACRE OF SOYBEANS PRODUCED UNDER
p", CONDITIONS AT COLLEGE STATION, LUBBOCK AND PLAINVIEW.

   

1955-57
1 College Station Lubbock Plainview

1955 1959 1957 1955 1959 1957 1959 1957

16.0 10.6 27.1 35.9

19.7 12.6 24.4 36.3

17.9 16.0 26.1 23.0 15.2 31.1 37.5

23 8 13.4 29.3

33.1 15.8 33.4 32.7

21.1 14.5 33.3 40.7

49.4 31.1 17.0 18.9 26.1 37.2

19.6 20.0 54.2 28.1 19.4 21.3 26.0 33.2

55.4 28.1 17.8 23.0 32.0 36.5

9.8 44.7 30 8 17 1 19.4 18 2

9.3 40.7 22 8 17 8 20.7 16 0
éPelican 36-0
 33.4
. 99.9
59-119 99.0

  
    
  
  
   
 
  
   
   
   
  
 
    
   
  
  
 
 

"gjrieties of group VIII ma-
; as Improved Pelican, f. E.
Major 52-87 and Yelnanda
'  e well adapted to the lower
iirie and South Texas, but
I quality and oil percentage
 hat inferior to the earlier-
“ varieties. These varieties
 bject t0 considerable lodg-
iishattering. Interest in soy-
fa cash crop in South Texas
 tease as better varieties of
»  ity group are developed.

 area, a combination of two
ffvarieties will lengthen the
‘riod and permit harvesting
 acreage per combine. For
 A farmer on the High
A be limited to 250 acres
,t combine if he were grow-
ZUgden. If he would dis-
is acreage among Dorman,
_'d Lee, for which the ave-
 rity dates are October 5,
0 and October 27, he could
fhis acreage per combine to
 Weather hazar-ds also are
 by planting varieties dif-
 maturity.

Pnonucrrou METHODS

Preparing the Seedbed

Seedbed preparation for soybeans is
similar to that used for grain sorghum
or cotton, and best results are obtained
on a well-prepared seedbed. The
land generally is prepared by bedding
in 56 to 42-inch rows in the fall or
early spring. When beds become
weedy, they are disked or rebedded
prior to planting. The land should
be free of weeds at the time of plant-
ing since the young soybean plants
start slowly and do not compete well
with weeds.

The seedbed should be firm and the
surface of the rows should be level or
slightly above the general ground
level to facilitate irrigating and har-
vesting. This can be done by break-
ing the well-settled beds down to a
nearly level surface and drilling the
beans in moist soil. In this manner,
any weeds that may be growing in the
beds are destroyed or thrown to the
middles at planting time where they
can be destroyed with the first culti-
vation after emergence. If soybeans

 , _ . ‘f Vx- "

Figure 4. Individual plant of Iackson

soybeans, showing good height. rela-
tively small stems and the placement
of pods well above the ground level.

are to follow a winter cover crop, the
cover crop should be destroyed at least
a month prior to planting.

Seed and Seeding Practices

Planting Seed. Good seed are im-
portant for successful soybean produc-
tion. The seed loses its vitality more
rapidly than most other legumes, be-
cause of its high oil content, and it
is not advisable to plant seed more
than 1 year old. Cracked, chipped or
broken seed also are unsafe for plant-
in.g. It is good practice to adjust the
seeding rate according to germination
tests.

Met/and 0f Seeding. Soybeans for

seed production should be planted in.

rows an-d be given sufficient cultiva-
tion to keep down weeds. They may
be planted with a corn or cotton plant-
er equipped with a bean plate. In
general, soybeans are planted in 36
to 42-inch rows, but recent tests un-
der irrigation at College Station
showed a slight advantage in bean

TABLE? 8. SOYBEAN DATE-OF-PLANTING TEST. PEBIOD-OF-YEARS, SUMMARY, CHILLICOTHE

 

Yields in bushels per acre

 

 Comparable
 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 "Vemge
.7 4.0 10.5 .8 6.3 .9 5.6
8.2 7.4 3.6 18.6 14.4 3.8 5.2 3.2 13.2 8.2
12.4 10.8 3.7 5.6 16.5 13.2 16.7 2.5 1.7 9.6 10.3

 

TABLE 9.

AVERAGE YIELDS PER ACRE OF SOYBEAN VARIETIES FROM‘ FOUR

MATURITY GROUPS‘, A&M PLANTATION, COLLEGE STATION, 1951-541

Date of

Maturity classification2

. Average

Plantmg Group IV Group V Group VI Group VII

May 1 9.5 8.5 9.5 13.6 10.3
May 15 11.8 9.1 14.3 17.1 13.1
Iune I 9.2 6.9 15.8 13.4 11.3
Iune 15 8.5 9.1 14.5 14.6 11.7
Group average 9 8 8.4 13.5 14.6

‘Soybeans were produced under dryland conditions. Each growing season received

below normal rainfall.

zVarieties represented in the four maturity groups are: group IV, Wabash, Perry and
Clark; group V, S-100 and Dorman; group VI, Ogden and Lee; and group VII,

Roanoke and Dortchsoy.

yield by using a more narrow-row
spacing. Further studies need to be
conducted since consistent yield ad-
vantages have not been obtained in
large-scale plantings. Narrow-row
plantings tend to lodge more than
wide-row plantings. If standard corn,
cotton or grain sorghum implements
are used for seedbed preparation and
planting, the crop can be cultivated
with a rotary hoe and regular culti-
vating equipment.

For hay or green manure, soybeans
may be planted in close drills if suf-
ficient fertility and moisture are avail-
able to support the growth of plants
in a thick stand. Thickly planted
soybeans produce a finer quality for-
age that cures more quickly, but yields
may be reduced during drouth years.
Where satisfactory growth can be ob-
tained only with irrigation, a row spac-
ing of 18 to 24 inches may be pre-
ferred to wider or more narrow rows.

   

Figure 5. Effect of date of plantin

in April, A, and May, B, at Stoneville, Mississippi.
Station. The shorter growth of the early planting date

early flower initiation.

10

The main objection to hay crops
planted in rows is that the forage
accumulates dirt when it is raked over
the bare cultivated middles into wind-
rows.

Date of Seeding. Soybeans may be
planted in Texas over a relatively long
period, but, regardless of variety, there
is an optimum time for seeding soy-
beans to obtain the best results. In
general, there is a tendency to plant
too early. June plantings at Chilli-
cothe, for example, gave higher yields
than April or May plantings, Table 8.
The beans produced fro-m June plant-
ing usually were of good quality even
when yields were low. Shriveled and
poor-quality beans were produced from
April and May plantings. Recent
date-of-planting studies for irrigated
soybeans at Plainview also indicate
that planting soybeans in North Tex-
as from May 25 to June 1O was super-
ior to earlier o-r later plantings.

Date of planting studies at I
A8cM Plantation near College Stati
Table 9, indicate that May 15 to I ’
1 is the optimum planting date
soybeans. Good vegetative gro
was obtained in most years, but s
yields fluctuated widely and no °

nificant differences could be sho -

Plants bloomed normally each y
but frequently the small po-ds w
shed as rapidly= as they were form
which undoubtedly accounted for yi
fluctuations. Pod shedding was »
duced with supplemental irriga
and yields were more consistent. i

Research by Hartwig and others (
indicates that optimum planting d
occur when the minimum soil t
peratures reach 65°F. and after i
length of the effective daylight peril
reaches 141/2 hours. The effe ‘y
daylight period includes about half  
hour before sunrise and after su ~
Soybeans grown in nutrient soluti
with a soil temperature of 45°F. ma
only 25 percent as much growth in»
27-day period as plants with a -
temperature of 63°F. They _
showed that with 12 hours of 

light, all varieties began flowering _

to 28 days after emergence.

Length of day may directly aff
the rate of growth of soybeans as w
as indirectly affecting it by ford
flower initiation, Figure 5. Sh;
day plants, such as soybeans, f
good vegetative growth with lo
days, but growth decreases or ce
altogether with short days. This a

' .. My ' i=-
‘b k‘
i x

g or length of day at planting time on plant growth. The Roanoke variety planted
Dorman variety planted May 1, C, and May 27. D, at College
is due to a short day length during early growth and subsequent

  
   
  

I‘ to the initiation of flower-
f‘ part to insufficient photo-
good production to compen-
éood loss from respiration
,- 24-hour period. The
 and somewhat lower light
i may provide for enough
“~- to keep plants alive and
rsome increase in vegetative
t are not sufficient for
vegetative growth. Most
"apted to Texas have a
length of 14 to 14% hours,
i ower too early, especially
ed in April, to make max-
, tive growth. By delay-
yg until the days are at
hours long, the length of
l've growth period in most
 lengthened and the seed
_ potential is increased.

     
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
    

iroximate day length on va-
jg dates at several locations
a the approximate date at
 day length reaches 141/2
.--. location are given in
and 11. Table 12 gives
ly air temperatures which
“e various locations during
 and June. Average daily
 tures in the upper foot of
‘p differ appreciably from the
"y air temperatures during
 and June in Central Tex-
1. the air temperatures give
 tion of soil temperature
tplanting dates. At Col-
 for example, 141/2 hours
 are reached about May 15.
l] both the average daily
um air temperatures are
ve. Both the temperature
 gth become suitable for
ybeans at about the same
.. planted earlier than this
,5 plant growth is slow
cooler temperatures and the
l itiation of flowers in the
ort periods of daylight.
;=~ a 141/2 hour day is
1 tMay 3, which is about
f the average date of the
pflffrost and temperatures are
A 65°F. Thus, on the
 Plains of Texas, soy-
"j- g dates are delayed by
 even though the day
 talgleafor planting.

,1}; s" of more than 141/2
’ reached at Weslaco un-
i une, although minimum
s» have been above 65°F.
gtime. In fact, the longest
Tear barely exceeds the 141/2
 level of most of our

TABLE 1U. APPROXIMATE LENGTH OF THE EFFECTIVE DAILY PERIOD OF LIGHT
A':'.' SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN TEXAS ON CERTAIN DATES OF PLANTING

Effective daily period ot light‘

Lubbock College Station Weslaco

Planting
date Amarillo Chillicothe
Hrs. Mins. Hrs. Mins.

April  I3 30 13 3U
April 20 14 U6 14 U2
May 5 14 34 14 3U
May 2U 15 U2 15 UU
Iune 5 15 15 15 I3
Iune 2U 15 3U 15 25

Hrs. Mins. Hrs.
13 29 13 27 13 17
14 UU 13 5U 13 39
14 26 I4 I7 14 U2
14 57 14 53 14 2U
15 IU 14 52 14 28
15 2U 15 UU I4 35

llncludes twilight period. .

present day varieties. Thus, in South
Texas, most soybean varieties will be-
gin flowering within 3O days after
emergence regardless of planting date.
One month is a short period for vege-
tative development before reproduc-
tion processes are initiated. The re-
sulting plant growth frequently may
be stunted and subsequent yields may
be low.

Planting in late May or early ]une
when temperatures are above 65°F.
and the daily period of light exceeds
141/2 hours will give more rapid emer-
gence, more rapid growth, higher
yields of seed and better quality than
either earlier or later plantings. Early
plantings are affected adversely by
cool temperatures or short day lengths,
or both, and late June plantings are
less productive because of frequent
temperatures above 100°F. during
]uly and August. Thus, planting
dates for soybeans in all areas of the
State range from May 15 to ]une 15.

Rate 0f Seeding. A stand of 1O to
12 plants per foot of row is optimum.
A thinner stand may give about the
same yields, but weeds will be more
troublesome during the seedling stage.
A thicker stand will be more subject
to lodging if good growing conditions
exist. When planted in 56 to 40-
inch rows, 4O to 60 pounds of seed
per acre are required, depending on
the seed size. Close-drill or broad-
cast plantings for forage purposes will

require 75 to 100 pounds of seed per
acre.

Good stands reduce weeds and pro-
duce higher yields that are easier to
harvest. Thin stands produce short,
bushy plants with the pods set close
to the ground, making combine har-
vest difficult and increasing harvest
losses. The germination percentage
should be determined and the plant-
ing equipment adjusted to drop 10
to 12 viable seed per foot of row?

TABLE 11. APPROXIMATE DATES IN

THE SPRING AT ‘WHICH THE DAY

LENGTH REACHES 141/2 HOURS AT
SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN TEXAS

Location Latitude Date
Amarillo 35° I5’ May 3
Chillicothe 34° 15' May 5
Plainview 34° 1U’ May 5
Lubbock 33° 4U’ May 7
Ysleta 31° 5U’ May 11
College Station 3U° 35’ May 14
Beaumont 3U° U5’ May I5
Weslaco 26° UU’ Iune 1U

Dept/a of Seeding. Poor stands re-
sult frequently from planting too deep,
especially with the large seeded vari-
eties of soybeans. The most favorable
depth is governed by the character of
the soil, amount of moisture present
and the size of the seed. In clay or
heavy soil, seed should be covered
about 1 inch; in sandy or light soil,

TABLE 12. AVERAGE DAILY AIR TEMPERATURES AND AVERAGE DATES OF
LAST KILLING FROST DURING 1953-57 AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN TEXAS
Main daily temperature Minimum daily temperature Date of
Location last killing
April May Iune April May Iune frost
College Station 67 75 81 56 63 69 Mar. 18
Amarillo 57 65 76 4U 49 6U Apr. 25
Chillicothe 65 72 83 5U 59 69 Apr. 11
Lubbock 61 68 78 45 55 64 Apr. 11
Ysleta 62 7U 79 44 52 61 Apr. 6
College Station 67 75 _ 81 56 63 69 Mar. 18
Beaumont 69 76 8U 59 66 7U Mar. 9
67 7U 73 Ian. 3U

Weslaco 77 8U 83

11

seed should be placed 1% to 2 inches
deep. In irrigated areas,‘ a preplanting
irrigation is common practice when the
soil is dry. Rain after planting may
form a hard crust on the soil surface
and prevent good seedling emergence.
A spike tooth harrow or rotary hoe
may be used to break such crusts.

Seed Treatment. Soybean planting
seed may be treated with 2 ounces
of Arasan, Arasan SF-X, Spergon or
other non-mercuric fungicides per
bushel prior to planting. These chem-
icals have given significant increases
in stands, especially when the seed
germination is less than 85 percent.
Fungicides containing mercury reduce
germination and are not recommended.
When an inoculant is applied to the

-seed that have been treated with a

fungicide, the seed should be planted
immediately after inoculation, within
2 hours if possible.

Inoculation

Soybeans, like other legumes, are
able to obtain nitrogen from the soil
air through the action of bacteria that
live on the roots (3). The proper
kind of bacteria must be provided,
however, to benefit from this source
of nitrogen. Bacteria required by the
soybean are seldom present in Texas
soils because the crop has not been
grown widely in the State and the
bacteria usually do not survive from
one season to the next. Thus, inocu-
lation is necessary each time soybeans
are planted.

Inoculation is done easily by pur-
chasing prepared bacteria cultures from

"seed dealers or direct from commercial

companies and following the direc-
tions on the package. Even though
soybeans have been grown on the land
before, it costs so little that it is good
insurance to inoculate each year. Some
growers apply a double amount of
inoculum to the seed before planting.
Others inoculate the seed and also
apply inoculum to an inert carrier,
such as moist sand, which is worked
into the soil during seedbed prepara-
tion. Both methods insure well nodu-
lated plants and increased production.

Poor inoculation may be indicated
by a yellowish color of the leaves in
the early growing season and poor
growth in general. Adequate inocula-
tion will enable the plant to function
as a soil builder and will increase the
protein level of the seed or hay.
Studies at College Station indicate that
the value of inoculation is equivalent

12

to about 25 pounds of nitrogen per
acre.

Fertilization

Very little experimental work on
fertilizing soybeans has been done in
most of the soybean-producing states.
Soybeans are a relatively new crop
and generally they have not given as
dramatic returns from the usual appli-
cations of fertilizers as have other
crops, particularly on fields of high
fertility. However, considerable ex-
perimental work has been conducted
in four or five of the leading soybean
states in the South (7), and general
recommendations are based on the
results of tests in these states.

Experimental work in North Car-
olina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and
Arkansas shows that soybeans grown
on the Coastal Plain soils respond
profitably to direct fertilizer applica-
tions. This is not surprising since
these soils are of light texture, have
been farmed for a long time and
usually are low in nutrients. Soybeans
grown on the Delta soils along the
Mississippi River have shown no re-
sponse to fertilizers. Cotton and corn
on the same soils, however, respond
only to nitrogen. There are cases in
the Mississippi Delta, however, where
soils were low in lime and minerals
and applications of lime, phosphorus
and potash have doubled the yield of
soybeans. This indicates that the soil
should be tested to determine the fer-
tilizer needs.

Applications of nitrogen to soybeans
may be profitable where the fertility
is low. Where soybean yields are low
because of poor fertility, a complete
fertilizer, like 3-12-12 or 5-10-10, may
be advantageous at planting time.
Most tests indicate that sidedressed ap-
plications of nitrogen barely pay for
themselves. If the level of fertility
is medium or high and the soybeans
are well inoculated, little or no re-
sponse can be expected from nitrogen
fertilizers.

To fertilize soybeans, start with a
good soil test, apply needed elements
as directed by a soil test and do not
put potash or nitrogen fertilizer in
direct contact with the seed.

Proper fertilization is essential. On
fertile land or where the preceding
crops have been fertilized heavily, it
may not be necessary to fertilize all
the crops in the rotation to maintain
productivity. If other crops in a
farming system give greater returns

  
  
   
  
  
   
  
    
   
 
 
   
  
 
 
  
  
     
   
  
  
    
    
  

to direct applications of fertilizer r
soybeans, apply the fertilizer to r
other crops. A bushel of soy,
contains approximately 3 poun
nitrogen, 3A pound of phosp‘
acid (P205) and 1% pounds
potash (K20). Most of the nitr
originates in the air, but the i
elements are taken directly from
soil. This emphasizes the impo g
of having suffitient available ,
phoric acid and potash in the soi
the soybean plants. In general,
soils where cotton yields are incr
by phosphate or potash fertili
soybeans yields also are increase
these fertilizers.

Cultivation _
Care should be given to the

tivation of soybeans during e
growth. As many weeds as pos
should be destroyed before plan
If weed seed germinate, or if a c’
forms before the young plants em
the crop should be cultivated wi
rotary hoe or spike-tooth harrow.
type of cultivation may be used

the plants are 4 to 6 inches high.
implements may destroy many p
if used immediately following e
gence, since the plants are brittle

tender at this stage. -

Succeeding cultivation may be r
with the equipment used for ~i_
or grain sorghum. Cultivation sh
be shallow and frequent enoug
control grass and weeds until
plants begin to bloom or until.
plants lap in the middles. The‘
in the drill row should be left as ,
as possible at the last cultivatio‘
that the cutter bar of the combine
operate below the lowest beans on
plants.

Irrigation ,

Total water requirements for)‘
production of soybeans do not d'
materially from the water require
produce cotton. However, the pr
timing of supplemental irrigations
soybeans is important and consider
different than for cotton. In the a
gated High Plains area, for exa u!
a crop of cotton is not irrigated -,
September 1, and moisture s
during early and mid-season gr
results in decreased yields of co
Soybeans, however, can withstand ~
siderable moisture stress from =
early season growth period tot
flowering stage, but moisture s»
should be avoided from the flowe
stage to maturity. Thus, even tho
cotton and soybeans have similar

 ements, they do not compete
i_ for available irrigation water.

 where full irrigation is re-
 replanting irrigation should
 - to wet the soil to a depth
 feet. Four irrigations gen-
it required after planting, with
 them in late August and
i r. The timing and number
 n irrigations will depend
gamount and distribution of
ifrainfall, but sufficient mois-
 d be available to assure co-n-
aowth without serious wilting
lants. Insufficient water from
ing period to maturity may

 yields considerably.

y: may be produced in areas
 Texas and the Coast Prairie
irrigation in certain years, but
distribution patterns fluctuate
from year to year and bean
 is erratic. If sufficient ir-
water is available to supple-
 natural rainfall during low
 riods, good soybean yields
 with a minimum of ex-
  irrigation.
"9'
1 seed production, soybeans
 combined when fully rr1a-
 before the first pods begin
 As the beans approach
, the leaves turn yellow
f» from the plant. Defoliating

soybeans with chemicals to hasten ma-
turity reduces the yield and bean
quality. The beans should dry natu-
rally on the plant until the moisture
content is about 14 percent. Harvest-
ing before the pods are fully mature
will cause the seed to wrinkle on
drying and will increase storage prob-
lems. Delay in harvesting will result
in serious losses from shattering, even
when using varieties with a high de-
gree of shatter resistance.

Direct combining is the most effi-
cient method of harvesting soybeans
for seed. The operator’s manual for
a particular combine should be fol-
lowed as to proper combine adjust-
ments. Soybeans should be combined
at a slow ground speed with the cut-
ter bar set close to the ground. Cyl-
inder speed of the combine should be
reduced and the concaves adjusted to
prevent cracking the beans.

High grade soybeans are dry, clean,
plump, pure as to variety and have a
low percentage of cracked or split
beans. Careful combining will avoid
mechanical damage to the harvested
beans. Mechanical damage will re-
duce the sales value of a crop and
field losses from improper combining
may take all the profits. Five to 6
bushels of beans per acre may be lost
through delaying the harvest, letting
the cutter bar ride too high and cut-
ting through the lowest cluster of

pods, and by improper threshing and
screening adjustments.

Storage

Soybeans should not be stored in
bins until they are thoroughly dry
unless the bins are equipped with arti-
ficial drying equipment. When first
harvested, the seed often contain too
much moisture for safe storage. For
storage, soybean seed should not con-
tain more than 12 percent moisture.
If artificial drying equipment is not
available, spread the beans on a clean,
dry floor immediately after harvesting
and turn them over from time to time
until they are thoroughly dry. They
may be stored in sacks or bins if the
storage room is well ventilated and
dry. Soybean seed are rarely damaged
by weevils or other grain insects, but
they lose their vitality or germination

power rapidly.

SOYBEANS FOR HAY

Good vegetative growth of soybeans
usually is obtained in most of Texas
under dryland conditions, and they
are used in some areas as a hay crop.
For hay production, late-maturing va-
rieties, such as Improved Pelican, Red
Tanner, Laredo and Otootan, are
recommended. Jackson and Lee also
are acceptable for forage production
and will produce more beans than
the four forage varieties mentioned.

i~ B. Mature field of Lee soybeans at Plainview showing naturally defoliated plants and the heavy leaf mulch
 ‘g the ground. This heavy litter adds organic matter to the soil, makes the soil surface more permeable and
‘outs excessive water run-off and soil erosion.

l3

Tests show that soybean hay has a
high feeding value for _cattle, if har-
vested when the seed are almost ma-
ture, but before the leaves are lost.
The hay obtained by cutting at this
stage is both a roughage and a con-
centrate. Better quality hay can be
made by harvesting the crop when
the seed are less than half developed.
Hay cut at this stage, or when the
seed are almost mature, cures quickly.
It is difficult to make mold-free soy-
bean hay unless it is shocked and cured
in the field for a month to 6 weeks
and allowed to pass through the sweat-
ing process before baling. Curing can
be completed in the windrow, but it
is much better to cure in small shocks.
The weight of the crop and total pro-
tein content increase until the pods
are well filled with seed, and the
leaves are yellowing from maturity,
but before they have begun to shed.

SOYBEANS IN ROTATIONS

Soybeans will fit into most crop
rotations, and they may be used in
the farming system as a full-season
crop or as a part-season crop. One
of the most popular soybean rotations
used at the present time is: first
year—grain sorghum; second year—
soybeans; and third year—cotton.
Farmers on the irrigated High Plains
prefer this rotation over a sorghum-
cotton rotation since weeds and volun-
teer sorghum are not as troublesome
when cotton follows soybeans. By
returning all soybean plant residue to
the soil after harvest, the soil surface
is loose and mellow and in excellent
tilth for the following crop, Figure
.6. Farmers in that area report their

l4

cotton comes up better and grows off
faster when it follows soybeans instead

of following grain sorghum in a rota-
tion.

INSECTS AND DISEASES

Several leaf-eating insects may cause
trouble in soybean production. Some
of these are the bean leaf beetle, le-
gume caterpillar, corn earworm, green
cloverworm and fall armyworm. Sev-
eral insects also may attack the young
pods and cause damaged and poor-
quality seed. Most of these insects
appear during August and September.
Farmers should check their crop for
insects periodically, and, when eco-
nomic loss is suspected, contact the
local county agricultural agent for the
latest information on insect control.

Approximately 50 diseases are
known to occur on soybeans, but so
far diseases have not been a problem
to soybean producers in the areas of
Texas where the crop is now con-
centrated.

LITERATURE CITED

1. Bashaw, E. C., et al. Soybean re-
search in Texas. TAES, P. R. 1755,
1955.

2. Bryant, M. E. and P. j. Lyerly. Soy-

bean variety tests, El Paso Valley
1954. TAES, P. R. 1760, 1955.

3. Erdman, L. W. Legume inoculation:
what it is; what it does. USDA Farm-
ers Bul. 2003, 1953.

4. Fluker, B. j. Soil Temperature. Soil
Sci. 86:35-46, 1958.

5. Hartwig, E. E. Factors affecting time
of planting soybeans in the Southern
States. USDA Cir. 943, 1954.

6. —-——————— Soybean production in
the Southern States. Better Crops

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

   
   
    
   
  
  
 
   
   
   
 
  
   
   
 
   
    
  
  
  

with Plant Food Magazine 
L-3-55), 1955.

Fertilizing soy
Plant Food jour. (Reprint)
Nov., Dec. 1953.

of temperatures during certain
tions of the pod filling stage
oil percentage in mature

Agron. jour. ',i:¥5:526-528, 1953.,”
King, j. G. arid Walker, H. j. -
bean production on the High P
TAES, Substation No. 8 Memo.
port, 1956. a

Loden, H. D. Soybeans make
grade on the High Plains. The'
ton Gin and Oil Mill Press. "
1957.

Morse, W. j. and Cartter, j. L.’ A
beans: culture and varieties. U
Farmers Bul. 1520, 1939.

——i—— Soybeans for feed, _
and industrial products. USDA F
ers Bul. 2038, 1952. A

Morse, W. j., Cartter, j. L. ‘
Hartwig, E. E. Soybean prod
for hay and beans. USDA Fa
Bul. 2024, 1950. ‘

Scott, j. E. Influence of en
mental factors on seed set of '
beans. Unpublished M. S. '
Texas A & M College, 1956.

Weiss, M. G., Weber, C. R., ‘
liams, L. F. and Probst, A. H. i
relation of agronomic characters
temperature with seed composi
characters in soybeans as influ
by variety and time of plan
Agron. jour. 44:289-297, 1952. 1

Unknown author.
descriptions and synonyms.
Misc. Publ. july 1953.

Unknown author. The story of

beans, soybean oil, soybean '
Their uses and products.
lations Dept. Chicago Board of T v

 

[Blank Page in Original Bulletin]

Location oi field research units oi the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station and cooperating
agencies

ORGANIZATION

"OPERATION

Research results are carried to Texas farmers,
ranchmen and homemalcers by county agents

and specialists of the Texas Agricultural Ex-

tension Service

joolay 2 wéfiéalffi ~95 gOWlOPPOLU :4 l f09P€55

Two additional programs are maintenance and upkeep, and central servi

  
 
  
     
  
   
 
  
  
  

The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
is the public agricultural research agen l
oi the State oi Texas, and is one oi ten-
parts oi the Texas AcSM College System

IN THE MAIN STATION, with headquarters at College Station, are I6 sub
matter departments, 2 service departments, 3 regulatory services and.
administrative staff. Located out in the major agricultural areas of Tex ’
21 substations and 9 field laboratories. In addition, there are 14 cooper’
stations owned by other agencies. Cooperating agencies include the T‘
Forest Service, Came and Fish Commission of Texas, Texas Prison 
U. S. De artment of Agriculture, University of Texas, Texas Technolo
College, Ilexas College of Arts and Industries and the King Ranch. 
experiments are conducted on farms and ranches and in rural homes. ‘

THE TEXAS STATION is conducting about 400 active research projects, gro a
in 25 programs, which include all phases of agriculture in Texas. A ‘
these are:
Conservation and improvement of soil Beef cattle
Conservation and use of water Dairy cattle
Grasses and legumes Sheep and goats
Grain crops Swine
Cotton and other fiber crops Chickens and turkeys
Vegetable crops Animal diseases and parasites ’
Citrus and other subtropical fruits Fish and game I
Fruits and nuts Farm and ranch engineering
Oil seed crops Farm and ranch business
Ornamental plants Marketing agricultural produc
Brush and weeds Rural home economics
Insects Rural agricultural economics .A
Plant diseases i

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH seeks the WHATS, the i
WHYS. the WHENS, the WHERES and the HOWS oi '
hundreds oi problems which confront operators oi iarms
and ranches, and the many industries depending on
or serving agriculture. Workers oi the Main Station
and the iield units oi the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station seek diligently to iind solutions to these
problems.