What are Soya Beans?
The soybean, soybean, or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses.
Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, from which tofu and tofu skin are made.
How To Plant Soya Beans In Zambia
Land preparation and seed selection
There are different methods you can use to prepare the land. Mechanical involves plowing with a tractor and harrowing. The manual method involves using a hoe to manually clear the land.
Inoculation
The next step is to innoculate your soybean seeds. This is a crucial step that needs to be taken seriously in soya beans production if you want to have a good yield.
Planting Soya beans
Plant your soybeans within the month of December. Delayed planting can lead to a lower yield, while very early planting may lead to poor seedling establishment. You can either plant in ridges or on flat land. Spacing should be 30-35cm between lines and 5cm between plants. Plant your seeds 2.5cm deep.
Fertilizing Soybeans
The fertilizer for soya beans is predominantly phosphate. You don’t need nitrogen especially if you’ve inoculated soybeans. Place your fertilizer 2.5cm away from the plant (you planted 5cm apart so that’s in the middle).
Managing weeds
Weeds are any undesirable plants growing in your field and will compete with your soybeans for nutrients. Whether you do it manually or with chemicals, ensure that your field is free of weeds.
Harvesting Soybeans
Soya beans mature at 90 – 100 days. At this time it’s ready to be pulled out of the field. Soybeans should be harvested as soon as it matures to avoid loss of yield through shattering. When fully mature, at least 50% of the leaves should have fallen off the plant.
What is the best month to plant soybeans in Zambia?
Planting – In Zambia, soybeans should be planted within the month of December.
How much is a 50kg bag of soybeans in Zambia?
Approximately price between k12 to k15. Let briefcase buys grow there on soybean and buy it at k4 per kg.
What is the price of soybeans in Zambia today?
The price in Zambian Kwacha is ZMW 2447.93 per kg.