Glycine max

NAME: Glycine max

FAMILY: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

COMMON NAMES: Soybean, Soya bean

LOCAL NAMES: In various languages and regions, soybean has different names, such as "大豆" (dà dòu) in Chinese, "콩" (kong) in Korean, "صويا" (soya) in Arabic, and "soja" in Spanish.

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Soybean plants are annual legumes that can reach heights of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet). They have compound leaves composed of three leaflets, and their flowers are small and typically white or purple. The fruits are pods that contain 2 to 4 seeds each, which are the soybeans.

USEFUL PART(s): The seeds (soybeans) are the most commonly used part of the soybean plant. They can be processed into various products, including oil, meal, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk.

GENERAL USES:

  1. Food: Soybeans are a versatile source of plant-based protein and are used in various forms in human diets, such as tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, and edamame.

  2. Animal Feed: Soybean meal is a significant component of livestock and poultry feed due to its high protein content.

  3. Industrial Uses: Soybean oil is used in cooking, as an ingredient in processed foods, and in industrial applications like biodiesel production.

  4. Pharmaceuticals: Soy compounds are used in the production of medicines and dietary supplements.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: Originally domesticated in East Asia, particularly in China, soybeans are now widely cultivated around the world. Major producers include the United States, Brazil, Argentina, China, and India.

WHY IS IT GREEN? Soybean leaves, like most plants, contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for the green color in plants and is essential for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:

  1. Positive: Soybeans are a nitrogen-fixing crop, which means they have the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be utilized by plants. This reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, thus benefiting soil health and reducing environmental pollution.

  2. Negative: Large-scale soybean cultivation can contribute to deforestation, especially in regions like the Amazon rainforest, where forests are cleared for soybean farming.

FUN FACT: Soybeans are one of the few plant sources that provide a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids needed by the human body.

Further Reading:

  • Smith, A. F., & Circle, S. J. (2019). Soybean: Physiology, Cultivation, and Uses. Academic Press.

  • Hymowitz, T. (2017). On the Domestication of the Soybean. Economic Botany, 71(4), 349-356.

  • Shurtleff, W., & Aoyagi, A. (2014). History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in China and Taiwan, and in Chinese Cookbooks, Restaurants, and Chinese Work with Soyfoods Outside China (965 CE to 2014).

  • Oliveira, M. C., & Tormena, C. F. (2020). Soybean in the crop-livestock integration system. Advances in Agronomy, 163, 101-131.