Introduction to Soybean
Soybean: A Legume Commodity Rich in Health Benefits
How to Plant Soybean
Starting From Land Preparation To Abundant Harvest
Variety Selection
There are many varieties of soybean that you can choose from in the market. However, make sure to choose superior soybean. Superior soybean varieties generally have several superior properties, such as high productivity, short lifespan, resistance to acidic soil, resistance to pests and diseases such as leaf rust, Agromyza pests, Lamprosema litura pests, soybean planthopper pests, pod borer pests, and others.
Preparation of Planting Land
Soil pH between 4.5-5.5 Textured clay, sandy, or sandy loam. Choose a location and land that is free from endemic diseases. Suitable soil temperature is around 30°C.
Cultivation of Plantation Land
The land to be cultivated must first be cleared of any remaining plants, grass or bushes growing around the land. Do the hoeing at least 2 times. The first stage is to let the lumps air for 5-7 days, after that the 2nd hoeing is done while leveling, fertilizing, loosening and cleaning the soil from the remains of roots.
Seed Selection
Use superior seeds for maximum production. Choose soybean seeds that are able to adapt to field conditions and meet seed quality standards. Indicators of good seeds are those with high productivity, short harvest period, large seed size, bright seed color, and adaptability to the growing environment.
Planting
Make a planting hole 2 cm deep. The recommended planting distance is 40 cm x 15 cm or 400,000 plants/ha. Fill the planting hole with 3 soybean seeds. Cover the planting hole with soil. Water the soil until it is wet and moist.
Maintenance
Weed every 2 weeks to avoid the competition for nutrients between soybean and weeds that can interfere with the growth process of soybean plants. Weeding is done by manually pulling weeds down to the roots.
Harvesting
Generally, soybean harvesting begins when the plant reaches 70 HST – 90 HST. Harvesting is done by cutting the stem with a serrated sickle. And it is better not to pull out the plant so that the Rhizobium root nodules remain in the soil as fertilizer
Binomial name
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Subkingdom
Tracheobionta
Superdivisi
Spermatophyta
Divisi
Magnoliophyta
Kelas
Magnoliopsida
Subkelas
Rosidae
Ordo
Fabales
Famili
Fabaceae
Genus
Glycine
Origin of Soybean
Typical Chinese Plants That Spread Through Trade Routes
Soybean Commodity Production Centers in Indonesia
East Java
Central Java
West Java
West Nusa Tenggara
North Sulawesi
DI Yogyakarta
South Sulawesi
North Sumatra
South Kalimantan
South Sumatra
Interesting Facts
Soybeans can be processed into biodiesel as a renewable fuel. To date, in Indonesia, soybeans are mostly grown in lowlands that do not contain much water, such as in the north coast of East Java, Central Java, West Java, Gorontalo (North Sulawesi), Southeast Sulawesi, Lampung South Sulawesi, and Bali.
Nutritional Content of Soybean
Per (100 gram)
Protein
40,4 gr
Fat
16,7 gr
Carbohydrate
24,9 gr
Fiber
3,2 gr
Calcium
222 mg
Phosphor
682 mg
Sodium
210 mg
Potassium
713,4 mg
Iron
0.35 mg
Copper
1,58 mg
Zinc
10 mg
Vitamin A
237 mcg
Vitamin B1
0,52 mg
Vitamin B2
0,12 mg
Vitamin B3
1,2 mg
Major Health Benefits
Reducing the risk of cancer
The isoflavone content or typical plant compounds that function as antioxidants in soybean are said to be able to reduce the risk associated with cancer.
Maintaining bone health
Consuming soy can indirectly increase bone strength by replacing animal protein in the diet. The reason is, soy protein intake reduces calcium excretion compared to meat and milk proteins.
Controlling diabetes
Soybean can keep blood sugar levels stable, this is because the soy content, namely isoflavones, can improve glucose control and reduce insulin resistance in the body.
Improving blood circulation
Iron and copper are two nutrients contained in soybean. Both nutrients are essential for producing red blood cells. Proper production of red blood cells in the body will help the body function optimally.
Maintaining digestive health
Soybeans have good fiber content. Fiber can stimulate peristaltic motion, thus preventing you from various digestive disorders.
Maintaining healthy heart
Adopting a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods such as soy or its derivatives can help improve cardiovascular health which is good for the heart.
Maintaining healthy skin
Soybean exhibits anti-inflammatory, collagen-stimulating, antioxidant, skin-lightening, and UV-protective effects. Soybean extracts can reduce UV-induced inflammation and improve skin elasticity.
Strengthening hair roots
Drinks made from soybean can help in the treatment of hair roots. In addition, soybean can also protect against moderate to severe androgenic alopecia (a common form of baldness).
Soybean Varieties
Soybean Varieties You Should Know
Lokon
This soybean variety is a variety that can be cultivated in lowlands to highlands, has high yields, is resistant to common soybean diseases such as bacterial wilt and other pests, adapts well to various environments, grows relatively quickly, is resistant to drought, and has good seed quality with high protein content.
Wilis
The Wilis soybean variety has several characteristics, including having a determinate, sturdy, and branched stem, a medium stem height of around 40-50 cm, small seeds, oval in shape, tolerant to leaf rust disease. This variety is not as sensitive as the Orba variety to Agranyza pests, leaf-destroying caterpillars, and seed-destroying pests. This variety can produce around 1 ton/ha, although many weeds grow in the plantation.
Galunggung
Galunggung soybean variety is one of the superior soybean varieties in Indonesia which is known to be relatively resistant to various environmental conditions. This variety is included in the group of national superior varieties and is used in research and development of soybean farming. This variety is resistant to pests and diseases that attack, has high productivity, adapts well to the growing environment, has good seed quality, and can be planted in various seasons.
Orba
Orba soybean variety is one of the superior varieties known to be able to adapt well to loose, grass-free land and has a good drainage system. This variety is known to be more sensitive to Agranyza pests (leaf-destroying caterpillars).
Guntur
Guntur soybean variety is one of the soybean varieties that is included in the semideterminate growth type. This variety was developed to have a faster riping time than other varieties and is suitable for planting in various soil conditions. Guntur variety is also known to be adaptive to various growing environments, has a short harvest time, good seed quality, high production, and is tolerant to pests and diseases.
Muria
Muria variety soybean is the result of breeding by the National Energy Agency (BATAN) using gamma ray radiation. This variety of soybean has several characteristics, including being able to produce an average of 1.7 tons of dry soybean per hectare and not containing radioactive substances. This variety is also known to be resistant to leaf rust disease.
Interesting Facts
Kedelai jika diperhatikan pada bagian akarnya, maka akan terlihat ada bintilan-bintilan kecil di sekitar perakaran. Bintil akar ini merupakan hasil simbiosis antara tanaman kedelai dengan bakteri Rhyzobium. Fungsi dari bintil akar ini adalah untuk memfiksasi nitrogen yang ada di udara untuk pertumbuhan, menyerap unsur hara, hingga menyangga tanaman.
Economic and Market Potential
Soybean: Economical Commodity and Easy to Cultivate
In the period 2017-2021, Indonesia’s total soybean availability (fresh and processed) depends on imported soybeans ranging from 92.11% to 97.70%. In terms of imports, Indonesia imports most of its soybeans from the United States, Brazil and Argentina. It’s not impossible to be optimistic about the soybeans potential, if we can increase the quantity and quality of soybeans, Indonesia can be an importer for this commodity.
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