RESEARCH OF SOYBEAN SEED QUALITY INDICATORS

Abstract

The article provides a study of the current state of global soybean production, the dynamics of sown areas, yield and gross harvest of soybeans in Ukraine over the past five years. World soybean production is almost 352 million tons, and the leaders are always the USA, Brazil, and Argentina, which in 2017 collected a record 286 million tons of soybeans, which is 82% of world production. China (12.3 million tons), India (11.5 million tons) and Paraguay (10.3 million tons) are also among the leading producers. Ukraine was ranked 8th among the leading countries in soybean production. Also, soybeans have been in the leading positions in the domestic agricultural market for many years, along with grain crops, in export and processing for food and fodder purposes, and also have a strategically important role in ensuring the country's food and economic security. Soybean seeds contain 38–42% protein, 18–23% fat, 25–30% carbohydrates, as well as enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Due to its rich and diverse chemical composition, soybean has no equal in terms of production growth rates, and it has long been widely used as a universal food, fodder and oil crop. The regions of the country with the largest sown areas of soybeans are given, and the place of Ukraine in the world market, both in terms of production and trade of soybeans, is clarified. Factors that should be taken into account when planning to increase the area under soybeans are given. Grain quality control is a complex process that includes a combination of various factors. However, this is a very important stage, as it makes it possible to make Ukrainian grain competitive on the world market. Studies of organoleptic and physicochemical quality indicators of soybean samples of the 2022 harvest are presented. It is shown that the test samples have the color and shape characteristic of normal soybean seeds, without musty, moldy and extraneous smell. The mass fraction of moisture, oil, the content of garbage and grain impurities do not exceed the normative values. Pest infestation was not detected in any of the studied samples. The mass fraction of protein in terms of dry matter in the experimental samples was 32.1–33.9, which does not correspond to DSTU 4964:2008. "Soy. Technical conditions" (the value should be at least 35%) and USDA requirements.