Are You Sowing Soybean at the Right Time to Maximize Your Yield?
16 June 2025, New Delhi: Adviser for Soybean Farmer in India
Timing is crucial for the success and yield of soybean crops. According to the ICAR – National Soybean Research Institute, Indore, farmers are strongly advised to sow soybean only after the monsoon arrives in their area and after receiving at least 100 mm of rainfall. This ensures that the soil has adequate moisture to support seed germination and healthy early growth, which are essential for a strong crop stand.
Recommended Sowing Period
The ideal sowing window usually falls between mid-June and mid-July, coinciding with the monsoon onset in most soybean-growing regions. In states like Madhya Pradesh and other central Indian areas, sowing should begin as soon as the soil is sufficiently moist following the first heavy monsoon showers. Delayed sowing beyond mid-July often shortens the growing period and increases the risk of moisture stress during pod filling, resulting in lower yields.
Choosing the Right Variety
Selecting the right soybean variety based on sowing time and cropping sequence is equally important. Farmers practicing multiple cropping cycles in a year—such as soybean followed by potato, garlic, or onion and then wheat—should choose short-duration varieties that mature quickly and fit well within tight crop schedules. Those who plan only one succeeding crop after soybean, such as wheat or chickpea, should select medium to long-duration varieties to maximize yield potential.
Agronomic Practices for Yield Stability
In addition to timely sowing, adopting sound agronomic practices helps ensure yield stability. Fields should be well prepared after monsoon onset using cultivators and planking to create a fine seedbed that supports uniform seed placement and emergence. Using quality seed with a germination rate of at least 70% is essential for a healthy and uniform plant stand. Applying well-decomposed farmyard manure at 5 to 10 tons per hectare or poultry manure at 2.5 tons per hectare before the last harrowing enriches soil fertility and promotes better crop growth. It is important to avoid sowing in dry soil or before sufficient rainfall, as this can cause poor germination and crop failure.
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