Soybean

भटमास (Bhatmas)

📖 Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Verified Agricultural Data (NARC) Pulses & Legumes 📅 Jestha (जेठ) – Ashwin (असोज) 🌡️ 18–30°C ⚗️ pH 6.0–6.8 ⏱️ 100-125 days

Growing Season & Schedule

🌱

Recommended Growing Window: Jestha (जेठ) – Ashwin (असोज)

Soybean takes 90 to 120 days from planting to pod harvest. Sown in Jestha-Asar and harvested in Ashwin-Kartik. Often intercropped with maize on hill terrace borders.

Description & Overview

Versatile dual-purpose pulse and oilseed in Nepal. Mid-hill farmers intercrop soybean with maize to boost soil nitrogen. Harvested green for roasted pods (Bhatmas Sadeko) or dried for flour, oil, and Kinema (traditional fermented food).

Details & Agronomic Insights

🌟 Positive Attributes & Health Benefits

Complete plant protein source containing all 9 essential amino acids (38-40% protein), isoflavones, omega-3 fatty acids, and lecithin. Supports cardiovascular and hormonal balance.

⚠️ Precautions & Adverse Notes

Contains trypsin inhibitors and phytates when raw; must be boiled, roasted, or fermented (e.g., Kinema) before eating.

🐛 Major Diseases & Pests

Soybean Rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi), Frogeye Leaf Spot, Yellow Mosaic Virus, and Pod Blight.

💊 Disease & Pest Solutions

Spray Hexaconazole (1 mL/L) or Mancozeb (2.5 g/L) if reddish-brown rust pustules appear on undersides of leaves.
Inoculate seeds with Bradyrhizobium japonicum (20 g/kg seed) to maximize biological nitrogen fixation.
Practice 2-year crop rotation and manage weeds during the first 35 days.

🧪 Fertilizer & Nutrition Recommendations

Apply 10 tons compost/ha. NPK: 20:60:40 kg/ha applied as basal placement in furrows at time of sowing.

Planting & Cultivation Guide

🌱 Planting Method Direct Seeding

📏 Seed Depth 3.0 cm

↔️ Seed Spacing 10.0 cm

📐 Row Spacing 40.0 cm

🪱 Soil Type Fertile, well-aerated sandy loam to silt loam

💧 Water Requirement Medium (450-650 mm, avoids prolonged drought at pod-fill)

☀️ Sunlight Full Sun (6-8 hours direct)

🧪 NPK Dose 20:60:40 NPK kg/ha + Rhizobium inoculum

Climate & Altitude Requirements

⛰️ Altitude Range 100–2000 m

🗺️ Suitable Regions Mid-Hills, Terai, Inner Terai

🌡️ Temperature Range 18–30°C

⚗️ Optimal pH 6.0–6.8

Harvest Information & Yield

⏱️ Maturity Days 100-125 days

📦 Expected Yield 1.5 - 2.5 t/ha (varieties: Lumle-1, Tarkari Bhatmas-1)

🔍 Harvest Indicators:

Leaves turn yellow and drop; pods turn straw-yellow and rattle when shaken

Crop Photo Gallery

भटमास (Bhatmas) (Primary Photo)

Seasonal Calendar — रोप्ने पात्रो

Activity / कार्य	Start Month (BS)	End Month (BS)	Region / क्षेत्र	Gregorian Window
🌱 Sowing	जेठ (Jestha)	असार (Ashadh)	Mid-Hills (मध्यपहाड)	May - June
🌾 Harvesting	असोज (Ashwin)	कार्तिक (Kartik)	Mid-Hills (मध्यपहाड)	September - October

Quick Reference

Verified

🌱 Method Direct Seeding

📅 Season Jestha (जेठ) – Ashwin (असोज)

⏱️ Matures 100-125 days

💧 Water Medium (450-650 mm, avoids prolonged drought at pod-fill)

☀️ Sunlight Full Sun (6-8 hours direct)

🪱 Soil Fertile, well-aerated sandy loam to silt loam

🗺️ Regions Mid-Hills, Terai, Inner Terai

🌡️ Temp 18–30°C

⚗️ pH 6.0–6.8

📏 Depth 3.0 cm

📦 Yield 1.5 - 2.5 t/ha (varieties: Lumle-1, Tarkari Bhatmas-1)

📅 Planting Calendar 🩺 Plant Doctor AI

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