Soybean, Soya
Glycine max

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small erect bean up to 60 cm tall. It grows each year from seed. Straggling kinds can occur. Stems, leaves and pods are softly hairy. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets have stalks. Flowers are small and white or blue. They occur in groups in the axils of leaves. The pods are broad, flat and hairy. Pods have 2-4 seeds. The seeds can be yellow to black.

There are 10 Glycine species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits lowland areas. It can be grown from sea level to 2,100 m altitude. Many varieties will not flower in the tropics (short days). It needs fertile soil. The best soil acidity is pH 5.5 to 7.0. It is damaged by frost. In Nepal it grows to 1800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 7-8. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Manchuria, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Sikkim, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young pods and ripe seeds are eaten. They are used for flour. The dried seeds are boiled or baked and used in soups, stews and casseroles. The seeds are used for oil. Toasted seeds are eaten like a snack. Strongly roasted seeds are used for coffee. Soy flour is used for noodles, pasta, confectionary and other foods. The beans are fermented and used in a range of foods. Sometimes the young leaves are eaten. The seeds are also used for sprouts and for making cooking oil and soya sauce etc. Because soybean contains a trypsin inhibitor they should be cooked and even the sprouts should be lightly cooked.

These beans can be found in small amounts in many places throughout the country of Papua New Guinea. Soybean is a major food plant in warm temperate and subtropical zones. Over 100 million tons are produced each year. It is widely cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Seeds need to be inoculated with bacteria before planting. The correct one is Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Plants need to be about 20 cm apart.

Plants flower about 8 weeks after sowing and pods mature about 16 weeks after sowing. Often plants are pulled up and hung up before threshing out the seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bekan, Ber-hrum, Bhatamas, Bhatmas, Da hou, Daizu, Dau-nanh, Dekeman, Edu mame, Feve de soja, Fore-keli Frijol soya, Gadele, Hak dau, Hsan-to-nouk, Huang dou, Jaa jang, Kacang kedalai, Kacang soya, Kachang bulu rimau, Kachang jepun, Kachang kedele, Kadele, Kedalai, Manchurian bean, Mao dau, Nga-see, Peayak, Pe-bok, Pe-ngapi, Sanndaek sieng, Soia, Soja bean, Sojabohne, Soya bean, Tai dau, Thua lueang, Tor nor klee, Tua luang, Utaw, Wong dau

Synonyms

Dolichos soja L.; Glycine gracilis Skvortsov; Glycine hispida (Moench) Maxim.; Glycine hispida var. brunnea Skvortzov; Glycine hispida var. lutea Skvortzov; Glycine soja (L.) Merr., nom. illeg.; Phaseolus max L.; Soja angustifolia Miq.; Soja hispida Moench; Soja japonica Savi; Soja max (L.) Piper; Soja viridis Savi;