Soybeans
Specifications:
Component | Average Range | Industrial Standard (Dry Basis) |
Crude Protein | 35% – 45% | Rich in Lysine; contains all 8 essential amino acids. |
Crude Fat (Oil) | 18% – 22% | Mostly unsaturated fatty acids (Linoleic & Oleic). |
Carbohydrates | 25% – 30% | Includes sugars like sucrose, stachyose, and raffinose. |
Crude Fiber | 4.0% – 6.0% | Found mostly in the hull. |
Ash (Minerals) | 4.5% – 5.5% | High in Potassium, Phosphorus, and Calcium. |
Moisture | 10% – 13.5% | Standard for safe storage is <13.0%. |
General Physical Description:
- Plant Height: Generally between 50 to 125 cm (20–50 inches).
- Root System: Features a strong taproot that can reach depths of 1.5 meters, with numerous lateral roots. A key feature is the presence of root nodules containing Rhizobium bacteria, which fix atmospheric nitrogen.
- Leaves: Most leaves are trifoliate (three leaflets per leaf), though the first pair are unifoliolate. They are typically dark green and covered in fine, grey or tawny hairs (pubescence).
- Flowers: Tiny (approx. 6mm), self-fertile flowers that grow in clusters (racemes) at the leaf axils. They are usually white, pink, or purple.
- Pods: Hairy, slightly curved pods (3–8 cm long) that grow in clusters of 3 to 5. Each pod typically contains 2 to 4 seeds.