Effective Nutrient Management Strategies for Soybean Production

The soybean is one of the world’s most significant legume crops, primarily serving the majority of global protein and oil needs. The production of soybean crops is limited by the various constraints, including biotic and abiotic factors, as well as crop management practices. For soybean crops, 15 essential nutrients are required nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, which are needed in relatively large quantities, and micronutrients comprising iron, boron, zinc, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and chlorine. These nutrients can be supplied to soybean plants either by incorporating them into the soil or applying a commercially available fertilizer as a foliar spray. The concentration of nutrients required by soybean crops varies, and deviations from the optimal range can lead to deficiency or toxicity. The concentration of nutrients in the soil solution, their chemical form, the mode by which the plant takes up the nutrients, their interactions with other soil nutrients, soil chemistry, and the method of fertilizer application determine the availability of nutrients to soybean crops. This review examines essential nutrients for sustainable soybean production, addressing the roles and functions of nutrients, required concentrations, and visual symptoms that appear during deficiency, and incorporates the findings of several studies. This study aims to provide practical guidance on effective nutrient management for soybean farmers and to help scholars review the literature on soybean nutrient management.