ICAR Soybean Varieties NRC 268 and NRC 270 Show Potential to Yield 20 Quintals per Hectare
Preliminary harvest results from Indore indicate encouraging performance despite adverse weather conditions, against India’s average soybean productivity of 10–11 quintals per hectare.
14 October 2026, New Delhi: The ICAR–National Soybean Research Institute, Indore, has reported promising preliminary yield results for two improved soybean varieties, NRC 268 and NRC 270, with harvest assessments indicating yields of approximately 20 quintals per hectare despite adverse weather conditions.
The results were assessed during a Soybean Harvest Day organised by the institute on October 9, 2026. One acre each was harvested under the two varieties to evaluate their yield potential under prevailing field conditions. The preliminary findings could provide useful insights into improving soybean productivity in India, where average yields currently stand at around 10–11 quintals per hectare.
Research trials conducted by the institute and under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean indicate that yields of 15–20 quintals per hectare are achievable through the adoption of improved varieties and appropriate crop production technologies. Under favourable conditions, yields could potentially reach 22–25 quintals per hectare.
Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), described the preliminary findings as encouraging. He highlighted the role of improved varieties and scientific production practices in raising soybean productivity.
Dr. Jat noted that the indications of yields approaching 20 quintals per hectare from NRC 268 and NRC 270, despite adverse weather conditions during the current season, warranted further scientific assessment. He said the analysis of the harvest data would help guide future research strategies aimed at improving soybean productivity.
The Director of ICAR–National Soybean Research Institute, Indore, emphasised that the significance of the harvest assessment extends beyond the results of a single season. Systematic collection and analysis of yield data over several years would help researchers understand productivity variations across regions, varieties and production conditions.
Long-term data could also help assess annual productivity improvements, estimate future yield potential and evaluate the effectiveness of research and technology dissemination initiatives.
The institute regularly conducts such harvest assessments to evaluate the performance of soybean varieties, understand the impact of improved production technologies and disseminate information on high-yielding varieties and scientific cultivation practices to farmers.
The latest initiative aims to strengthen coordination among soybean research institutions, agricultural extension services and farmer outreach programmes. The preliminary yield data will undergo further analysis to establish a more comprehensive understanding of varietal performance and the influence of different production conditions.
The findings are preliminary, and further evaluation across seasons and locations will be important to establish the consistency and wider applicability of the varieties’ yield potential.
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