It is imperative that soybean harvesting be conducted with the utmost care and precision. The optimal timing of soybean harvesting has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of the final yield. Soybean harvesting must be conducted at the optimal stage of seed maturity.
Harvesting soybeans prematurely results in a high number of immature fruits, which in turn leads to a reduction in seed quality and storability. However, harvesting too late results in the drying out of the old fruit and cracking of the pods. It is possible that seeds may be released in a scattered manner. The potential for yield loss in soybeans will increase due to the influence of weather factors and pests and diseases.
The optimal time for harvesting soybeans is when the majority of leaves have turned yellow and subsequently fallen. Additionally, the fruit undergoes a color change from green to yellow-brown and develops cracks. The fruit pods exhibit signs of senescence. The stems exhibit a yellowish-brown hue and are devoid of foliage. Soybeans are typically harvested between 75 and 110 days after planting, with the specific timing varying depending on the variety and altitude of the cultivation site.
Soybeans are typically harvested at 75 to 100 days after planting. Meanwhile, soybeans intended for seed production are harvested at the age of 100 to 110 days, ensuring that the maturity level of the soybean seeds is consistent.
Soybean harvesting can be conducted when the moisture content of the soybeans is above 30% or below 17-20%. The impact of the difference in moisture content can be observed in the volume shrinkage and seed quality.
When soybeans are harvested with a high moisture content, volume shrinkage is higher, indicating that the optimal harvest occurs when the moisture content is low, between 17 and 20 percent, particularly during the dry season. The advantage of harvesting soybeans with low moisture content is that the post-harvest chain is shorter, thereby saving time, money, and labor.
