Soya beans are grown worldwide, which means that soya bean cultivars are area-specific with regard to climate change. Therefore, soya bean cultivars best adapted to cool, moderate, or warm production areas provide the best yield and quality. Below we take a look at the Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) trials and recommendations for soya bean cultivars in South Africa. These national soya bean cultivar trials determine the most suitable varieties for the different geographical locations. 

Important considerations in terms of cultivar choice:

1. Length of the growing season.
2. Planting date (influences the adaptation of soya bean cultivars).
3. Pod height and plant height.
4. Stand-ability (is influenced by the number of overcast days experienced during the growing season).
5. Growth habit (distinguishes between determinate and indeterminate genotypes).
6. Row width. (More side branches and leaves are better adapted to wider rows. Fewer side branches and leaves are better adapted to narrow rows.)
7. Resistance against seed shattering (can play an important role during harvesting).
8. Sensitivity to herbicides.
9. Seed size, hilum colour, and GMO status (can earn a premium price).
10. Yield probability (the potential to achieve an above-average yield).