Soybean is one of the best preceding crops for most crops in the rotation, thanks to which the soil is enriched with available forms of nitrogen. The process of nitrogen fixation in symbiosis with nodule bacteria begins at the stage of two trifoliate leaves. As a result of the breaking of the triple bond in the nitrogen molecule N2, oxidized forms of nitrogen NO2 and NO3, begin to accumulate in the soybean root system; for the plant to assimilate them they must be transformed into reduced forms NH3 and NH2. This transformation takes place under the action of the enzymes nitrate and nitrite reductases.
Molybdenum is a component of these enzymes, so sufficient molybdenum supply to soybean plants during the nitrogen fixation process is an important condition. Molybdenum deficiency most often appears on light soils and on acidified varieties of gray forest soils and chernozems. To solve this problem ECOORGANIC suggests using the microfertilizer Ecoline Molybdenum (Complex), which is used for foliar feeding of legumes from the 2-true-leaf stage to budding at 0.5–1.0 l/ha.
The crop's range has expanded over the last two decades, and soil conditions are not always optimal, so deficiency of other microelements, in particular iron, may appear on crops. Symptoms of iron shortage show on soybean leaves as interveinal chlorosis. Such shortage is often the result of a complex disturbance of plant development on soils with an alkaline reaction and/or a high concentration of salts in the soil solution. Chlorosis can intensify on over-compacted, waterlogged soil and during cold spells. Imbalance in mineral nutrition conditions reduces yield and its quality. To eliminate possible deficiency of this microelement we suggest using Ecoline Iron (Chelate), which is used for foliar feeding at the start of pod formation at 0.5–1.0 l/ha.
Pod fill, and therefore soybean grain yield, depends on how fully the flowers are pollinated, so at the start of budding it is desirable to feed plants with boron. Depending on plant condition and weather, we suggest using Ecoline Boron (Premium) or Ecoline Boron (Organic) at 0.5–1.0 l/ha.
Feeding plants at the start of branching, which coincides with the start of pod formation on the main stem, is important. Climatic conditions at this time are often unfavorable, with moisture shortage and high temperatures that can cause stress. For feeding soybean in this period ECOORGANIC recommends the special fertilizer Gros Quicelium at 1.0–1.5 l/ha. The fertilizer contains a full set of microelements and a balanced ratio of phytohormones and amino acids. Thanks to their effect, the action of stress factors on the plant is softened, which helps improve pollination, reduce flower abortion, form more pods per plant and, accordingly, raise yield mass.
During grain formation in the pods, plants need increased nitrogen nutrition balanced with other macro- and microelements. Foliar feeding with a 5–6% urea solution combined with Ecoline Legume (Chelates) at 1.5–2.0 l/ha will substantially help soybean plants form pods and improve their fill. On areas damaged by spider mites, it is appropriate to apply Ecoline Magnesium (Chelates) at 1.5–2.0 l/ha together with the acaricide to stimulate chlorophyll recovery and intensify photosynthesis.