Yield of Soybeans per Hectare
The yield of soybeans per hectare under rain fed condition is 1.4 – 2.4 tons per hectare of dried seeds. For irrigated farmland, the yield of soybeans per hectare can be as high as 3 – 4 tons.
Open pollinated soybeans seeds may not yield as high as hybrid soybeans seeds. However, some open pollinated soyabeans seeds are well tolerated to the growing and climatic conditions of Nigeria.
Factors that can affect the yield of soybeans
The following factors can affect the yield of soybeans:
Soil Fertility
If your soil is poor in nutrients, your soybeans farming venture may not be high yielding. Soils that are poor in phosphorus and other nutrients will not support high yields for soybeans.
You should conduct a soil test before embarking on the growing of soybeans. Deficient nutrients in the soil should be promptly replaced with the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Variety of Soybeans Seeds
The variety of soybeans seeds planted can determine the yield of the soybeans crop. Hybrid soybeans seeds and genetically modified soybeans seeds often have higher yields than open pollinated soybeans seeds.
In Nigeria, some soybeans seeds are well known to perform better than others.
Fertilizers
The type of fertilizers used can also impact the yield of the soybeans crop. Some soybeans farmers do not use fertilizers at all, they often record low yields.
The most appropriate fertilizers for soybeans farming are fertilizers high in phosphorus. Single Super Phosphate fertilizer and Diammonium Fertilizers are some of the types of fertilizers good for soybeans farming.
Pests and Diseases
The level of pests and diseases can impact the yield of the soybeans crop. Insects and other pests can transmit viral diseases to soybeans plants, these diseases can significantly affect the health of the plants and lead to a low yield.
Soil borne diseases and pests like nematodes can also lead to a significantly low yield in soybeans farming.
Climatic Factor
Climatic factors like temperature, humidity and level of rainfall are some issues that can affect the yield of soybeans crop.
Excessive rainfall can increase the risk of fungal diseases in soybeans plants, this can lead to lesser yield. Too high temperature can also negatively impact the health and the yield of the soybeans plants.
Agroecological Zone
Planting soybeans in some ecological zones in Nigeria may yield better than some other agroecological zones.
For instance, soybeans crop is usually planted in the Savannah belt of Nigeria because the crop does better in this zone than the rain forest zone.
Do you grow soybeans in Nigeria? If yes, why not share with us your yields in the comments’ section.
