Soybean is a growing global commodity crop with strong demand due to its use as an edible oil and as a key ingredient in animal feeds, such as for poultry. However, soybean is a new crop in Africa and there are few high-yielding variety options available especially to smallholder farmers.
Is soybean a good crop in Malawi?
Protein and oil are seed components of great economical value for food, animal feed, and industrial use. In Malawi, soybean is well adapted for production in all agro-ecological zones (Kananji et al., 2013). However, soybean yields are still low, as smallholders obtain 11.90 – 14.87 bushels per acre on average (Malawi Soybean Outlook, 2016).
How many soybean lines were tested in Malawi?
With financial support from Palladium International, the PATs tested more than 70 soybean lines during three seasons in Malawi, and a fourth season is underway. In the 2017-18 growing season, 36 lines were tested while the 2018 winter season 40 lines were tested under irrigation.
What is the highest yield a soybean line produces?
In the summer, the highest yield for a soybean line across testing locations was 35.69 bushels per acre and in the winter it was 38.66 bushels per acre. During the summer season in Mpale, which received irrigation to remove drought stress, the highest yield line produced was 60.97 bushels per acre.