Soybean production in Queensland
Soybeans are used to produce vegetable oils, processed foods such as tofu and soymilk, and soy meal for animal feeds. Australia is a net importer of soybeans, with $52 million worth of soybeans and soymeal products imported in 1998.
Soybeans can provide both green manure and grain crop benefits in crop rotations, with symbiotic nitrogen fixation adding to soil fertility and sustainability in an overall cropping system. In coastal Queensland, soybean fits into a crop rotation with sugarcane. It has been used effectively as a green manure crop, producing up to 300 kg of nitrogen per hectare if turned in at grain maturity.
There is a growing organic soybean sector and market. Organic soybeans can bring very profitable returns ($800-900 per tonne last season) and markets already exist. Agronomy differs markedly from "conventional" soybeans, particularly in pest management. High costs for hand weeding and other labour must be factored in. Sound planning and preparedness for careful management is essential.
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Key points
- Plant only fresh, good quality seed and use group H-soybean inoculant.
- Heliothis are a danger from commencement of flowering
- Green vegetable bugs can severely reduce both yield and quality by feeding on young pods and developing seed.
- To reduce disease problems, avoid planting soybeans after other legumes or sunflowers. New varieties have genetic resistance to the main disease phytophthora.
- Commence harvesting when seed moisture levels reach 16% as harvesting at 12-13% moisture causes more grain loss and seed cracking.
- Soybeans yield an average 2.5 tonnes/hectare and bring competitive returns.
Last updated 26 November 2004
