General Production Information

Soybean has only recently been cultivated in Colorado, so there is very little statistical analysis to present. It has enormous potential in irrigated agricultural lands as a leguminous rotation crop. Description of Crop An annual legume with pubescent stems and large pinnate leaves. Flowers are white or purple and found in axillary racemic clusters. The seedpods are pubescent, bearing 1- 4 spherical seed. The seed are harvested and used for vegetable oils, shortening, margarine, bread flour, soy milk, meat substitutes, fibers, plastics, ink, and as protein supplements for livestock feed. Minor uses also include: adjuvants, pesticide carriers and bases for pharmaceuticals. Cropping System Soybean should be planted in mid-May, but no later than early June. The optimal soil temperature is 60 F; optimal air temperature is 86 F. The planting depth should be 1- 1.5". Approximately 150,000 seed per acre for indeterminate varieties and 225,000 seed per acre for determinate varieties are the suggested planting densities. All soybean seed should be inoculated with the appropriate Rhizobium, or symbiotic nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, to ensure adequate nitrogen fixation and nodulation (swelling of root with bacteria). This is currently very important in the production in Colorado where soybean have not bee