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Bulletin 181 March, 1917

NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION

DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY

THE SOY BEAN

IN

NEW HAMPSHIRE

SOY BEANS UNINOCULATED AND INOCULATED

By FORD S. :PRINCE.

NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE

OF

AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS

DURHAM, N.H.

THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Ford S. Prince.

INTRODUCTION.

The soy bean is a new crop in many parts of the United
States. It has been grown for centuries in Manchuria, Japan,
and India, the seed being used for human food, and the stems
and leaves as forage for farm animals. It was first cultivated
in the United States in 1829, but did not attract much attention
until the latter part of the last century. Since 1880 hundreds
of varieties have been introduced into this country from Asia,
and the different strains of these exhibit all variations in habits
of growth, yield, time of maturity, etc. It is because many
of these varieties are heavy yielders of forage and are adapted
to our climate and soils that we believe the soy bean, on many
farms, will prove a profitable crop.

The purpose of this bulletin is to describe methods of growing
and harvesting the soy bean, to discuss ways in which our farmers
may use it, and to report some field trials of varieties, inoculation
and fertilization which have been made at the Experiment
Station during the past few years.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT.

The soy bean is an annual legume, very similar in appearance
to the common field bean. The plants themselves are erect and
branching. The different varieties vary greatly in their habits
of growth. Some varieties are very branching from the ground
up; others do not branch as freely and then only nearer the top.
A few varieties have a tendency to vine. Large leaves are
associated with the least branching, small leaves with the most
branching kinds. Those varieties which are most branching are
usually better adapted for hay than the less branching kinds.
The plants of all varieties are hairy, the pubescence being
either tawny or gray. Tawny colored pubescence is nearly
always found on those plants which bear purple flowers and dark
colored pods, the white on those which have white flowers. The

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 3

flowers are either white or purple and are borne in clusters. Little
or no crossing occurs in the field, the flowers being self-fertilized.

Plant of Medium Yellow Soy Beans with Leaves Removed to Show Pod

Formation.

Pods are formed abundantly, each one containing from two
to five seeds. The seeds varj^ in color from green to olive yellow,
yellow, brown and black. They also vary greatlj^ in size.

The soy bean has a short tap root with numerous fibrous
roots which are covered with nodules if the plant is inoculated.
Approximately one-tenth of the total weight of the plant is
in the roots.

The following table is a summary of the characteristics of some
of the leading varieties :

4

N, H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION.

[BuUetin 181

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March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Roots of Soy Bean Showing Nodides.
A Veritable Nitrogen Factory.

The soy bean, like clover and alfalfa, is a legume. If properly
inoculated it has the power of taking nitrogen from the air and
building it up into its own tissue. If grown it increases the
protein of the farm for feeding purposes and also gathers nitrogen
to enrich the soil.

In contrast to field beans, the soy bean has no destructive
diseases which attack it. In our trials here at the station, no
disease whatever has developed on any of the plants, and the
past two seasons have been unusually favorable for the develop-
ment of fungous diseases.

The soy bean is frost resistant, excelling both field beans and
corn in this respect. It is not hurt by light frosts in the spring
when the plant is young, and is particularly resistant to the
early frosts in the fall when it.is nearing maturity.

The most serious pests of the soy bean in New Hampshire
are woodchucks and rabbits. The plants can not be sprayed
with a poison of any sort to combat these animals. They should
be killed in their dens with carbon bisulphide or if their work

N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION.

[Bulletin 181

is likely to prove serious a field near the farm buildings should
be selected for the crop.

Soy bean varieties vary greatly in their time of maturity as
can be seen by the following table :

Table II.

Variety.

Number

Number

Number

days

davs

days

till first

till first

till fully

bloom.

pods.

podded.

Stage of maturity at

cutting, 112 days

after planting.

Kentucky

.Wise. E. Black

Black Champion

Guelph

Swan

Manhattan

Medium Yellow (Conn.)

Hollybrook

Ebony

Haberlandl;

Mammoth : . . .

Medium Yellow (B.P.I.)

Wilson

Manchu

Black Eyebrow

Ito San

63

71

89

51

56

74

91

100

—

69

79

91

77

87

98

71

77

92

61

71

82

84

89

105

61

71

89

79

89

100

100

110

76

81

102

87

95

108

54

60

77

56

63

80

61

69

89

Seed well formed.

Ripe.

Pods partly set.

Seeds well formed.

All p o d d e d. Seed

small.
Pods well formed.
Seed mature. Leaves

turning.
Pods well formed.
Seed well formed.
Pods formed. Seed

mall.
In full bloom.
Pods well formed.
Just fully podded.
Leaves turning.
Leaves turning.
Bottom leaves turning.

REASONS FOR GROWING SOY BEANS.

Dairying is now the most important farm industry of the
state, and is likely to continue as such. Our farmers produce
very little of the grain which they feed to their dairy cows, —
their feed bills are therefore very large. The most logical way
to cut down these feed bills is not to raise more grain but to raise
more leguminous forage crops which will take the place of a part
of the grain in the ration of the dairy cow. These crops can be
more economically grown here than grain.

Besides furnishing protein for the farm animals, legumes
enrich the soil and add to the farm fertility because of their

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

A Field of Medium Green Soy Beans.

ability of acquiring nitrogen from the air, A leguminous crop
does not have to be plowed under to enrich the soil. If it is
fed on the farm and if the manure is carefully handled, the soil
will be benefited by this added nitrogen.

The best leguminous crop for our farmers to grow is red clover.
This crop is better adapted to our soils and climate than alfalfa.
It is a rich feed, making a much better hay for dairy stock than
timothy and is noted for its soil improving qualities. Often-
times the red clover crop fails, because of adverse soil or climatic
conditions. The farmer is left without a legume crop of any
sort. Rather than try to feed his cows without any legume hay
whatever he should attempt to grow some other rich forage-
The soy bean, being a very quick growing annual legume, may be
grown for hay under these conditions.

Corn silage possesses those succulent qualities which are so
necessary to the production of milk, but is itself a very wide
ration and must be supplemented with rich protein concentrates.
Part of this protein may be grown on the farm in soy beans,

8 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 181

either with corn or in a separate field and later ensiled with the
corn. A mixture of the two crops in the silo does not make a
balanced ration. It is still necessary to feed some grain; but the
milk flow can be maintained with less grain where a mixture of
corn and soy bean silage is fed than where the silage is made
from corn alone. Silage made from corn and soy beans has been
found to be more digestible than that made from dent corn
alone.* It seems reasonable, therefore, that many farmers
could cut down their feed bills by growing soy beans and putting
them into the silo with corn.

Soy beans fit into the crop rotation, either as a silage crop
or when red clover fails. We need a more systematic rotation
of crops on our New Hampshire farms. We also need more
legumes, to enrich and improve the soil and to furnish protein for
our dairy cows. Soy beans can readily be utilized for these
purposes.

SOILS AND FERTILIZERS.

Soy beans have a wide range of soil adaptation. They do
well on sandy soils which are too light to grow profitable crops
of clover. They also thrive on heavier soils. In general, any
soil which will grow good corn will grow soy beans. Better
yield for forage can be grown on rich soils than on poor soils.
Where the soil is poor, barnyard manure or commercial fertilizer
may be used profitably. If the beans are inoculated there is
little need for any nitrogenous fertilizer. Here at the station
we used ten tons of manure and 500 pounds acid phosphate per
acre with inoculation. The beans grew well and gave excellent
yields as our data show.

INOCULATION, t

Soy bean seed may carry enough of the inoculating bacteria
to cause a liberal formation of nodules on the roots. A farmer
can never be sure of this and it is better to inoculate either
with soy bean soil or prepared pure cultures. Inoculated beans

* Henry's Feeds and Feeding, 1910.

tFor methods of inoculation see N. H. Press Bulletin No. 44.

March, 1917.] the SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

UninoculcUed and Inoculated Soy Beans.

may show an increased growth over uninoculated ones. In 1915,
in a test here at the station, we obtained the following results:

Table III.

Plot.

Inoculated
Uninoculated

Green Weight
per Acre.
7.192 T.
4.672 T.

Gain for inoculation 2 . 520 T.

Inoculated beans are richer in protein than uninoculated ones,
■even though there is no increase in yield. At the Michigan
Station* it was ascertained that inoculation increased the protein
in soy bean plants almost 50 per cent.

SEEDING THE CROP.

The seed bed for soy beans should be prepared the same as
for corn, or other cultivated crops. They should be planted
about the same time as corn, as they need a warm soil to insure
the best germination. Planting in rows and cultivating as for
corn has proved to be the best method of producing them. They

♦Bulletin 224, Michigan Experiment Station, 1905.

10

N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION.

[BuUetin 181

may be planted with the garden drill; the ordinary one-horse or
two-horse corn planter, or with the grain drill. If a grain
drill is used certain cups may be stopped and the rows planted
at any desired distance. The rows should be from 24 to 30 inches
apart, and the beans should stand about 2 inches apart in the
row.

The usual method of seeding for hay or soiling is to drill
solid. If a fine stemmed variety such as the Wilson or Black

Inoculaled and Uninoculated iSoy Beans After Harvesting.

Champion is used, they may be seeded in rows the same as for
silage. If coarser varieties are used they should be drilled solid,
as oats or rye. Soy beans should never be broadcasted by hand.

More seed is used in drilling sohd, it requiring one and one-half
to two bushels of seed per acre. In rows 24 to 30 inches apart
only about one-half bushel of seed is required per acre.

Considerable care should be exercised in planting not to
seed the beans too deeply. This is a frequent cause of failure.
On sandy soils they may be put in as deep as two inches, on

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

11

heavier soils one and one-half inches should be the maximum
depth.

SOY BEANS MIXED WITH CORN.

Many farmers have tried to grow soy beans and corn mixed
in the same rows for silage. On account of the difference of
the size and shape of the seeds it is hard to secure a uniform
stand of either one. If seeded in this way it is better to plant
the corn first and immediately plant the beans in the same rows
with a planter or by hand. Some of the newer makes of corn
planters have special attachments for seeding soy beans at the
same time the corn is planted.

Good Soy Beans Can Be Produced in Corn if Conditions Are Favorable.

12 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 181

If the soil is well adapted for the beans and if the variety of
corn planted is not too large, or seeded too thickly, a fair yield
of beans may be secured by planting them in this way. Most
farmers in this state plant their silage corn too thickly to allow
ior*much growth of soy beans. If seeded with the corn, a har-
vester may be used to cut the beans and the corn at the same time.

Considering all these factors we believe that the best way
to produce soy beans for silage is to grow them in a separate
field and mix them with the corn at silo filling time.

The following is an extract from a letter written by A. W.
Benner, County Agricultural Agent in Grafton County, to the
author. Mr. Benner has had considerable experience in his
county in growing soy beans mixed with corn.

"It has been my experience here that where soy beans have
been sown extremely thick with the corn they have lodged so
badly that they could not be harvested with a corn harvester.
Where they have been planted with corn that has been too
thickly planted, practically no growth has been obtained by the
soy beans."

CULTIVATION.

Before the beans come up they may be cultivated with a
weeder or a spike tooth harrow with the teeth slanted backward.
They should not be cultivated while the beans are coming through
the ground. Later cultivations should follow as for corn. A
one-horse adjustable harrow cultivator is very useful in the
narrow rows. All cultivations should be shallow, and should
leave the soil level. Drilled beans may be cultivated before
they come up with a harrow or weeder. The direction of these
implements should be crosswise of the drill.

HARVESTING.

Soy beans may be harvested for silage any time after the
pods form and before the leaves fall. If cut for hay they should
be harvested at the time the pods are forming. They should
not be allowed to stand too long for hay as the stems become
woody very rapidly after the pods form. Great care should be
taken to save all the leaves of the plants as they are the most
valuable part.

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 13

If seeded alone for silage, the beans may be cut with a mower
■or scythe, hauled in and mixed with the corn as it goes into the
silo. If grown with the corn it is best to use a corn binder for
harvesting as the beans will then be bound in the bundles with
the corn and thus be satisfactorily mixed.

If cut for hay the beans may be cut with a mower either in
the morning or late in the afternoon. They should be raked
up by hand before entirely cured so that no leaves will be lost.
They may be put into small cocks and turned carefully until
€ured if the weather is fair. If the weather is rainy or unfavorable
they may be placed in large cocks, covered with a canvas hay
<;ap and left for several days. Soy bean hay is very palatable and
highly nutritious and should be cured and handled properly.

SOY BEAN YIELDS.

From a study of the yield data herein recorded it will be
observed that an abundance of green soy bean forage can be
produced per acre, an amount equivalent to over 2 tons of legume
hay. The average protein content per acre is equivalent to that
produced in 3 tons of red clover hay; that in the best varieties
to almost 4 tons. The highest green weight per acre recorded
is slightly over 10 tons, with an average for 16 varieties of over
8 tons. The highest yield of dry weight per acre is slightly over
2.6 tons, with an average of 2.15 tons. While this is not as
much green material or dry weight as cau be produced in corn,
it is nevertheless higher in nutritive value, ton for ton. The
following table shows the analyses of corn varieties grown in
variety tests by the county agents during 1915 and the anal-
yses of five of the leading varieties of soy beans grown here in
1916,

14

N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION.

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March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

15

Variety.
Corn
Eureka
Longfellow
Learning
Sanford
N. H. 500

Average

Soy Beans
Swan
Guelph

Black Eyebrow
Wilson
Ito San

Average

Table V.
Dry Matter per A.

6,461
5,637
5,655
5,487
5,513

Lbs. Protein per A.

489
463
479
432
453

5,751

463

4,168

924

4,961

903

4,507

868

4,250

831

4,464

808

4,470

867

In general we may conclude that more dry matter can be
grown in corn than in soy beans; but that considerably more
protein can be grown in soy beans than in corn. It seems
reasonable then that many farmers should grow soy beans for
silage because at the present time they are forced to buy protein
in high priced grains or protein feeds.

FEEDING VALUE OF SOY BEANS

The following table* will give some indication as to the feeding
value of soy bean silage:

Table VI. Digestible

Nutrients in 100 Pounds.

Dry

matter.

Crude
protein

Carbohy-
drates.

Fat.

Nutritive
ratio.

Corn silage

Soy bean silage

17.7
15.2
17.2

1.1

2.6
1.6

15.0
11.0
13.8

0.7
0.7
0.8

1:15.1
1: 4.8

Corn and soy bean silage

1: 9.8

From these analyses it can be seen that whereas corn silage
alone has a very wide nutritive ratio, a mixture of corn and

' Henry and Morrison, Feeds and Feeding, 1915.

16

N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION.

[BuUetin 181

soy beans in the silo makes a much narrower ratio and greatly
increases the feeding value of the silage.

(It might be explained in this connection that the nutri-
tive ratio of a feed is the relation between its protein content
and its carbohydrates plus the fat multiplied by 2|. Thus a
feed containing 1 pound of digestible protein, 5 pounds of
digestible carbohydrates and 1 pound of fat would have a nutritive
ratio of 1 : 7j. The proper nutritive ratio for a dairy cow is
approximately 1 : 5.5.)

While there are no feeding experiments on record to show
what increase may be expected from feeding corn and soy bean
silage over corn silage alone, the experience of farmers and
feeders in general is that the mixture is a much better feed.
Part of the grain or other protein concentrate may be omitted
from the ration where the mixed silage is fed.

It should be remembered that soy beans alone do not make
good silage. They cure into a black, rather offensive smelling
mass. Where they are mixed with corn at the rate of one ton
of beans to two or three tons of corn, no odor results and the
silage is as palatable as straight corn silage. They can be mixed
at silage cutting time in these proportions or ensiled as they
grow naturally in the field when planted together.

Cured as hay, soy beans have been found palatable and
nutritious. The following table* shows the relative nutritive
value of different kinds of hay:

Table VII. Digestible Nutrients in 100 Pounds.

Dry

matter.

Crude
protein.

Carbohy-
drates.

Fat.

Nutritive
ratio.

Soy bean hay .
Alfalfa hay . . .
Red clover hay
Timothy hay . .

53.6

11.7

39.2

1.2

51.6

10.6

39.0

0.9

50.9

7.6

39.3

1.8

48.5

3.0

42.8

1.2

1: 3.6
1: 3.9
1: 5.7
1:15.2

It can be seen here that the soy bean is high in digestible
nutrients. That it is a good feed is borne out by careful feeding:

* Henry and Morrison, Feeds and Feeding, 1915.

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 17

experiments. At the Tennessee Experiment Station* soy bean
and alfalfa hay were fed in conjunction with corn and cob meal to-
two lots of Jersey cows, four in each lot. The average milk
yield per lot for 30 days was 245 pounds in favor of the soy bean
ration and the fat yield for the same period from the soy bean
hay exceeded that from the alfalfa by 20.5 pounds.

At the Ohio Experiment Stationf after trials in 1908 and
1909 it was concluded that soy bean hay can replace much of the
high-priced protein concentrates in the ration of the dairy cow.

Soy bean hay is relished by all kinds of stock. The chief
objection to it is the coarse woody stems. The beans for hay
should either be drilled close to keep the stems fine or a fine
stemmed variety should be planted.

Soy bean hay should be fed carefully at the start until the
animals become accustomed to it. The hay can be increased
from about three feeds per week to one feed per day to milch
cows and young stock.

VARIETIES.

The following is a list and brief description of some of the
leading varieties.

Guelph or Medium Green (seeds, green). This variety is
a rank grower, highly valued for its forage. It will be mature
enough for silage in our state in about 90 days, but will be most
valuable at 110 days. All of these varieties have a cutting
period of three to four weeks during which time they might be
cut for silage. The cutting period for hay is much shorter, as
the stems get woody rapidly.

Hollybrook (seeds, straw yellow). A variety maturing about
the same time as the Guelph and similar in habits of growth.
Although the analysis of this variety revealed a low percentage
of protein it is nevertheless a very satisfactory yielder of green-
forage and dry matter.

Haberlandt (seeds, straw yellow). A variety about one week,
later than the Guelph. Does not grow as erect as the Guelph.

Swan (seeds, straw yellow). Similar to the Haberlandt.

* Bulletin 80, Ten. Agr. Exp. Sta., 1908.
t Bulletin 267, Ohio Exp. Sta., 1913.

18 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 181

Mammoth (seeds, straw yellow). The latest maturing variety-
grown. A fairly satisfactory yield of green forage,, but does not
mature sufficiently to set many pods. The seed of this variety
is plentiful, however, and usually cheaper than that of other
varieties.

Wilson (seeds, black). A fine-stemmed variety suitable for
hay when grown in rows, if seeded early and on- an early soil.
A very good yielder.

Black Champion (seeds, black). Similar to the Wilson but
a few days later.

Medium Yellow (seeds, straw yellow). An early maturing
variety. Forms an abundance of pods and seed here. It is very
branching and suitable for either silage or hay.

Ito San (seeds, straw yellow). An early variety suitable for
hay or silage. Although it does not produce as much green
forage as some of the later maturing varieties, it is a good yielder,
of both dry matter and protein. Not so branching or fine
stemmed as the Medium Yellow. Will mature seed here if
planted by June 1.

Manchu (seeds, straw yellow). An early variety very similar
to the Ito San. Will mature its seed here.

Black Eyebrow (seeds, mottled black and yellow). A variety
similar in appearance to the Manchu and maturing a few days
later. Suitable for either hay or silage. Will also mature seed.

Wisconsin Early Black (seeds, black). The earhest variety
we grew here. Suitable for hay or seed. Matures its seed in
about 100 days.

OTHER USES OF THE SOY BEAN.

As a soiling crop. On account of its high feeding value the
soy bean may be utilized as a soiling crop where such a system is
practised on the farm. If grown for soiling, the stems should be
kept fine the same as for hay, so that all of the forage will be

eaten.

As a seed crop. The four earher varieties described above
will mature seed and can be grown as a seed crop. We have made
no trials of their seed-producing capacity here but expect to do

March, 1917.] THE SOY BEAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 19

SO next season. The soy bean should produce as much seed per
acre as the ordinary bean.

As a human food. Although the soy bean has not been in
general use as a human food, it is highly nutritious and is at
present on the market in the larger cities for human consumption
on account of the prevailing high prices and scarcity of field beans.
It is not as palatable at first as the ordinary bean, but there
is no doubt that our people can acquire a taste for it. The bean
is prepared by either stewing or baking. It requires considerably
longer to cook the soy bean than other beans.

As a crop for soil improvement. By reference to the table
on page 15 it can be seen that the soy bean is high in nitrogen.
The average nitrogen content of the 16 varieties was found to be
117 pounds per acre. Assuming that one-half of this came from
the air it is evident that about 58 pounds of nitrogen has been
added to the farm fertility for every acre of soy beans grown.
Every pound of this nitrogen is worth at least 15 cents in com-
mercial fertilizer. The value of this added nitrogen per acre is
S8.70, and can be figured as such, provided the manure is care-
fully handled.

If it is felt that a soil is so sandy or so low in fertility that
a year should be utihzed in growing green manure crops to plow
under, the soy bean will be found to produce as much green
material for this purpose as any other plant. It may be grown
in the summer and followed in the fall by rye or rye and vetch.

The following letter from Prof. R. A. Moore, Agronomist
of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, speaks for
itself in this connection:

"It is really remarkable how rapidly the acreage of soy beans
has increased in our state. We are now growing them through
the sandy region that we thought at one time was practically
useless. Farmers are growing them for seed and growing the
hay. They take the place of clover and after we have grown
soy beans for two or three years, on this land we can readily get
catches of clover on the Jack Pine soils which are very fight in
character. Then after we get them under cultivation we can
grow corn. Thus we are practically reclaiming the sand belt,
which governs a portion of several counties of our state."

20 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 181

County Agent Sweeton, of Windham County, Vermont, asserts
that the soy bean acreage in his county increased from 15 acres
in 1915 to 240 acres in 1916, in conjunction with corn silage.

SUMMARY.

The soy bean is a new crop which may be utilized by the
farmers of our state.

Soy beans are easier to grow than field beans because they
are not attacked by any serious diseases.

Soy beans are legumes and are rich in nitrogen and protein.

It will pay to inoculate for soy beans when growing them for
the first time on any soil.

Soy beans fit into the crop rotation when red clover fails or as
a supplementary silage crop.

Any soil that will grow corn will produce soy beans; soils that
are too sandy to produce corn will grow good yields of this crop.

Soy beans for silage are planted in rows and cultivated as
corn. If conditions are favorable they may be seeded in the
same rows with corn.

For hay they should be drilled solid, unless a fine stemmed
variety is used, when they may be drilled in rows as for silage.

Soy beans may be harvested for silage any time after the pods
form and before the leaves fall.

For hay they should be harvested when the pods are forming.
They should be handled carefully when cut for hay, in order that
all the leaves will be preserved.

Soy beans should be mixed with corn in the silo, one ton
of the beans to two or three tons of corn.

Silage made from mixed corn and soy beans is a much better
feed than corn silage and less grain need be fed where it is used.

Soy bean hay is as valuable for feeding dairy cows as alfalfa.

There are a number of varieties of soy beans which will prove
satisfactory for New Hampshire conditions.

The soy bean improves the soil; can be grown for seed; can
be used as a human food; and is an excellent crop for green
manuring.

The soy bean will probably assume its maximum importance
in New Hampshire as a crop to supplement corn in the silo.

The author desires to express his appreciation to B. E. Curry,
Experiment Station Chemist, under whose direction the chemical
analyses herein reported were made.

Names of growers and seed dealers who handle the different
soy bean varieties can be obtained by writing to the New Hamp-
shire Agricultural Experiment Station.

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