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Soybeans: how to increase yield by 33% and protein content by 22% in one season

Yield +33% • Protein +22%

Farm profile

Name
Ekoistok LLC (sole proprietor E.N. Bedakova)
Size (ha)
total field area 102 ha (trial plot 15 ha, control 15 ha)
Location
Russia, Kursk Region, Zolotukhinsky District, Apalkovo village
Focus
grain legumes (soybeans, “Kofu” variety, RS1 reproduction)

Situation

Standard soybean cultivation technology produced a yield of about 22 c/ha, below the variety’s potential.

Protein content – the key soybean quality indicator – stood at 36% (low for food and feed grades).

Heavy use of foliar mineral fertilizers (urea and magnesium sulfate at high rates) and expensive chemical seed treatments raised production costs.

The goal was to increase yield and quality while reducing the chemical load.

Objective

  • Increase soybean yield on the trial plot by at least 10–15%.
  • Raise protein content to earn a price premium.
  • Cut foliar mineral fertilizer rates (mineral nutrition) by at least 30–50%.
  • Reduce the use of chemical fungicidal seed treatments.

What we did

  • Trial setup: two 15 ha plots were allocated in field No. 8. Autumn preparation (deep loosening to 40 cm) and spring application of starter fertilizers (15:15:15 – 100 kg/ha, ammonium sulfate – 80 kg/ha) were identical.
  • Seed treatment:
    • Trial: Vermix 2 l/t + Biocraft-Universal 0.5 l/t.
    • Control: chemical seed treatment Hicoat 1.44 l/t.
  • First herbicide treatment (Basagran 3 l/ha + Tiffi 0.012 l/ha + surfactant 0.2 l/ha):
    • Trial: Vermix 2 l/ha added.
    • Control: no Vermix.
  • Tank mix with an anti-grass herbicide (Panther 1.5 l/ha + Alpha-Cypi 0.15 l/ha):
    • Trial: Vermix 2 l/ha + Biocraft-Universal 1 l/ha + Boron 0.5 l/ha + Molybdenum 0.25 l/ha + Magnesium sulfate 2 kg/ha.
    • Control: Nagro 1 l/ha + Boron 1 l/ha + Molybdenum 0.5 l/ha + Magnesium sulfate 4 kg/ha + Urea 4 kg/ha.
  • Key difference: in the trial the magnesium sulfate rate was halved (2 kg instead of 4 kg) and urea was eliminated entirely (4 kg in the control), while biological products were added.
  • Desiccation at 25% remaining green mass (Reglone 1.5 l/ha, 300 l of water) – identical.

Results

  • Yield, c/ha

    Before
    22.0
    After
    29.3
    Change
    +7.3 c/ha (+33.2%)

  • Protein content, %

    Before
    36
    After
    44
    Change
    +8 pp (+22.2%)

  • Grain moisture, %

    Before
    12
    After
    10
    Change
    2% lower – better for storage and lower risk of spoilage

Additional effect:

  • 50% reduction in foliar mineral nutrition – according to the test report.
  • Savings on foliar feeding: half the magnesium sulfate, urea completely eliminated (4 kg/ha in the control).
  • Partial replacement of the chemical seed treatment with biological products.
  • Greater plant resilience thanks to Vermix and Biocraft.

Economics

77,000 RUB
Revenue per ha — control
22 c × 3,500 RUB
≈ 117,933 RUB
Revenue per ha — trial
29.3 c × 4,025 RUB (with premium)
≈ 40,933 RUB
Additional revenue per ha

Calculation based on average 2021 market prices for the Kursk region.

Prices (approximate):

  • Soybean sales (base, 36% protein) – 35,000 RUB/t (3,500 RUB/c)
  • Premium for high protein (44%) – roughly +15–20% to the price (we take +15%, i.e. 40,250 RUB/t)
  • Vermix – 300 RUB/l, Biocraft-Universal – 400 RUB/l
  • Hicoat (seed treatment) – ≈ 5,000 RUB/l (estimate)
  • Mineral fertilizers (magnesium sulfate, urea, boron, molybdenum) – at average prices

Evidence

  • Test report No. 42 dated 01.12.2021, signed by a representative of Ekoistok LLC.
  • Comparative field trial: control and trial plots of 15 ha each, same previous crops and soil.
  • Laboratory data: protein 36% → 44%, moisture 12% → 10%.
  • The full treatment schedule was recorded, with clear differences.
  • Conclusion in the report: “by reducing the foliar nutrition rate by 50%, we obtained an increase in yield and protein” – documentary confirmation.
The technology using Vermix (seed treatment + two in-season treatments) and Biocraft-Universal made it possible to cut the foliar mineral nutrition rate by 50%, completely abandon the expensive chemical seed treatment and urea, increase soybean yield by 33% and protein content by 22%, and earn additional income of over 40 thousand rubles per hectare.

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