Glycine max
Sunlight
Full sun — short day plant, flowering triggered by day length (variety-dependent)
Water
450-700 mm per crop. Most critical at flowering through early pod fill (R1-R5).
Soil
Well-drained loam. pH 6.0-7.0. Inoculate with Bradyrhizobium if first time planting soybean in a field.
Temperature
Optimal 25-30°C. Cool temperatures (<15°C) delay emergence and maturity.
Humidity
Moderate. High humidity promotes soybean rust and foliar diseases.
Season
Warm season — 80-150 days depending on maturity group and latitude.
Updated February 2026
Est-ce Soybean ?
Téléchargez une photo et notre IA identifie l'espèce avec guide d'entretien et conseils de culture.
Overview
Soybean is the world's most important oilseed crop, providing high-quality protein (40%) and oil (20%). Global production exceeds 370 million tonnes annually, with Brazil, the United States, and Argentina producing 80% of the total. Soybean meal is the dominant protein source in animal feed worldwide. The crop fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria, making it excellent in rotation with cereals. In sub-Saharan Africa, soybean production is expanding rapidly as a protein source and soil improvement crop. Soybean is also a key ingredient in food products including tofu, tempeh, soy sauce, and soy milk.
Plant Health
Soybean is susceptible to 3 known diseases. Early detection is critical — use the CuraPlant app to scan leaves and get an instant AI diagnosis.
Rouille asiatique du soja
La rouille asiatique du soja (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) cause des pustules brun clair à brun foncé sur la face inférieure des feuilles, entraînant une défoliation rapide et 10-80 % de perte de rendement. Aucune résistance durable n'existe. Gérez avec des applications préventives de fongicides (triazole + strobilurine) au stade R1-R2, des semis précoces, la surveillance des parcelles sentinelles et le respect du vazio sanitário (période sans soja) au Brésil.
Maladie de la mosaïque du soja
Le virus de la mosaïque du soja (SMV) cause une moucheture de mosaïque vert clair et vert foncé, un plissement des feuilles, un rabougrissement et une moucheture du tégument des graines. Il est transmis par les semences (jusqu'à 5 %) et propagé par les pucerons. Gérez en plantant des semences certifiées indemnes de virus, en utilisant des variétés résistantes (gènes Rsv), en contrôlant les pucerons et en arrachant les plants infectés tôt dans la saison.
Mildiou (des cultures maraîchères)
Le mildiou produit des taches jaunes angulaires sur la face supérieure des feuilles avec une croissance duveteuse gris-pourpre en dessous. Causé par des oomycètes Peronospora ou Plasmopara, il prospère par temps frais et humide. Gérez avec des variétés résistantes, des pulvérisations préventives de mancozèbe ou de cuivre, une bonne circulation de l'air et en évitant l'irrigation par aspersion. Il nécessite de l'eau libre pour infecter — gardez les feuilles sèches.
Cultivation Guide
Inoculate seed with Bradyrhizobium japonicum if planting in new soybean fields
Select maturity group appropriate for your latitude
Plant at 45-60 cm row spacing, 300,000-400,000 plants/ha
Monitor for soybean rust from R1 (flowering) and apply preventive fungicide if detected regionally
Harvest when 95% of pods are brown and seed moisture is 13-15%
Rotate with cereals (maize, wheat) for disease break and nitrogen credit
Companion Planting
Strategic companion planting reduces pest pressure, improves pollination, and can significantly increase yields.
Climate & Regions
Active climate zones for Soybean are highlighted below.
Tropical
Suitable
Subtropical
Suitable
Temperate
Suitable
Mediterranean
Not typical
Highland
Not typical
Arid / Semi-arid
Not typical
Specific Zones & Regions
Common Questions
Soybean grows best during the warm season — 80-150 days depending on maturity group and latitude.. It requires optimal 25-30°c. cool temperatures (<15°c) delay emergence and maturity. and full sun — short day plant, flowering triggered by day length (variety-dependent). In tropical regions with consistent warmth, it can often be grown year-round with proper irrigation.
Soybean is commonly affected by Soybean Rust, Soybean Mosaic Virus, Downy Mildew. Regular crop monitoring, good air circulation, avoiding overhead irrigation, and using disease-resistant varieties are the most effective prevention strategies.
Soybean grows best in well-drained loam. ph 6.0-7.0. inoculate with bradyrhizobium if first time planting soybean in a field.. For irrigation: 450-700 mm per crop. most critical at flowering through early pod fill (r1-r5).. Maintaining proper soil moisture without waterlogging is critical — Soybean is sensitive to both drought stress and root rot from excess water.
Soybean grows well alongside maize. These companions help repel pests, improve pollination, or provide ground cover. Avoid planting near onion, garlic, which can inhibit growth or share susceptibility to the same pests and diseases.
CuraPlant
Scan any leaf with your phone and get an instant AI diagnosis, treatment guide, and prevention plan — even offline.
