Plants
soybean
Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Glycine
soya bean
Annual nitrogen-fixing legume (associates with Bradyrhizobium japonicum) — tall varieties Sambaíba and Tracajá were tested by Rebello & Sakamoto (2019, Experiments IV–V) in a syntropic system with Tanzania/Massai/Mombaça grass between rows, reaching up to 2.9 t/ha without agrochemicals. Central crop of Brazilian large-scale agriculture.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Placenta I
- Ecological role
- Pioneer
- Primary stratum
- Low
- Strata
- Low, Medium
- Biomass class
- Fertilizer biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Soil pH range
- 6–6.8
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Sandy
- Frost tolerance
- -2.8 °C
Morphology
- Mature height
- 0.6–1.2 m
- Root system
- Taproot
- Root depth
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Very fast
- Lifespan
- ≤ 1 year
- Time to first harvest
- 4 months
Biomes & climate
- Cerrado Suitable
- Atlantic Forest Suitable
- Amazon Suitable
Köppen classes
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
- Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Soybean takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of soybean?
The first harvest of soybean comes around 4 months after planting.
How tall does soybean grow?
At maturity, soybean reaches 0.6–1.2 m tall.
What stage and stratum does soybean occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, soybean belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.
Does soybean fix nitrogen?
Yes — soybean is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.
Functions
Propagation
Seed
Citations
- Rebello, J.F.S. & Sakamoto, D.G. (2019) — Agricultura Sintrópica em Larga Escala, Experimentos IV e V (soja com capim tanzânia / massai) (CEPEAS / Agenda Götsch) (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage, nitrogen_fixer)
- PFAF Plant Database — Glycine max; Canadian Food Inspection Agency biology of Glycine max (ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, frost_tolerance_c, soil_texture_preference, time_to_first_harvest_months)
- GBIF — Glycine max (L.) Merr. (accepted, key 5359660); POWO / Kew (external_ids)
External references
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