Vegetable Soybean Production, Field Preparation

Field Preparation
Vegetable Soybean Production

Field preparation:

Land tillage makes the soil friable for good germination, increases soil porosity and aeration for healthy plant growth. Tillage kills weeds to control weed-crop competition for soil nutrients, moisture and light. This in turn helps plant productivity. Plow and rototill the field.

Basal fertilizer application:

Have soil samples analyzed. The fertilizer requirements are determined on the basis of the soil test. The higher the soil nutrient level, the lesser will be the quantity of fertilizer needed. To get a good harvest (7-10 tons green pods per hectare) and maintain soil nutrient status of consistent productivity, a fertilizer mix containing N, P2O5 and K2O at the rate of 20-30, 60 and 80 kg/ha respectively, is applied by broadcast as a basal dose.

The fertilizer is incorporated into the soil with final harrowing and leveling of the field.

Use of Rhizobium inoculation:

Usually Rhizobium inoculation is not required in fields where legumes are cultivated. But newly opened lands need Rhizobium bacteria inoculations at 10 g per kilogram of seed. The use of Rhizobium bacteria culture will promote nodule formation and nitrogen fixation by the plant roots.

Seedbed preparation:

The soil should not be too dry at the time of seedbed preparation. Inadequate moisture will result in poor seed germination. At AVRDC, we irrigate the field 3-4 days prior to sowing to ensure sufficient moisture in the soil for good germination of seed. Prepare 20-cm raised beds spaced one meter apart from center of one bed to the center of the next.