Soybean and Lentil Farming: Cultivation Techniques

Soybean Crop: Origin and Significance

Soy is of Asian origin. Today, it is one of the most important legumes in the country. In 1994, there were 184,056 hectares cultivated, with an annual production of 370,846 tonnes.

Climate and Soil Requirements

The appropriate temperatures range from a minimum of 12°C to 30°C.

Sowing Techniques

1. Prepare the soil thoroughly.
2. Select high-quality seeds.
3. The amount of seed varies according to the size of the seed. It may range from 65 kg for small seed varieties to 120 kg for large seeds, with an average of 2 bushels (92 kg).
4. Aim for a plant density of 400,000 to 900,000 plants per hectare.
5. Create furrows for planting with a distance of 60 cm between them. If planting in a line, sow 15 to 30 seeds per meter. The depth to cover the seeds should be 5 to 8 cm.
6. Temperature and humidity are crucial for soybean germination. At 8°C, germination takes 12 to 14 days. At temperatures of 18 to 21°C, germination occurs between 5 to 7 days. The optimum temperature for proper plant development is between 21 and 25°C.
7. Currently, the most planted cultivar remains "Crystal." The main varieties recommended for summer and winter are: Totai, Doko, CAC-1, PCBS-9, Crystal, Embrapa, and EMGOPA.

Cultural Care

Weed control should be done as early as possible to avoid harming the plants. After each hoeing or weeding, ensure the foliage increases rather than secondary branches. Hoeing should be done in strips or furrows.

Phytosanitary Treatments

Soybeans are susceptible to various insects and grubs, including ants and thrips.

Harvesting

Harvesting begins when the kernels mature, i.e., when the pods have hardened and may break when rubbed in the palms.

Lentil Cultivation

Crop Requirements

The optimum temperature for germination is between 15 and 25°C, with slower germination at lower temperatures. Emergencies are safer and faster when planting is done at depths of 4-5 cm. Soils with good organic matter inputs and an abundance of iron oxide give better quality lentils. Lentils prefer loose and deep soils, and excess moisture can be damaging. If the soil is too fertile, it can produce excessive plant growth at the expense of fruiting. Lentil cultivation is usually dry farming, although it has been shown that with irrigation, leaf area and dry matter production increases, and positive responses were obtained in the field. However, production is sensitive to excess water, producing a decline in production. The critical time of greatest growth in lentil to water needs is flowering, and a delay of this water causes crop reduction. Lentils tolerate drought well but have limited tolerance to salt exceeding 5 mmhos/cm. From this point, dry matter production begins to be reduced.

Feeding

A crop of beans yielding about 2 tonnes of grain/ha can consume about 95-100 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Approximately 75% of the N requirements are met by symbiotic fixation with Rhizobium. Studies from Syria, in soils with high pH and low phosphorus content, have revealed the need for a level of available phosphorus of 4 ppm in the soil during periods receiving normal levels of rain. However, when precipitation is limited, it is necessary to achieve high production, a level of 7 to 9 ppm. This demonstrates the importance of diammonium phosphate, especially during years of low rainfall. The applications of potassium have had little effective response. In Spain, the crop is not currently fertilized, although some technical views from Cuenca and Albacete suggest that a contribution would be beneficial. It has been shown that application of zinc, at a dose of 5 ppm, increases the survival of Rhizobium and increases the number and content of hemoglobin in root nodules, resulting in increased nitrogen fixation and production of dry matter (this is always in zinc-deficient soils).

Pests

Lentils are susceptible to the lentil weevil (Bruchus Lentis and B. Signaticornis).

Diseases

Common lentil diseases include root rot, mildew, rust, and Ascochyta.