Effect of Size of Seed, Variety and Crop Year on the Chemical Composition of Soybean Seeds

Part IV. Protein, carbohydrate and ash contents of soybean seeds grown in U.S.A. and China

Abstract

The protein, carbohydrate and ash contents of soybean seeds of 11 varieties in U.S.A. and 23 samples in China were determined. Soybean seeds were sieved to obtain of 3 sizes, i.e. size 1 (large), size 2 (medium) and size 3 (small). Compared with U.S.A. variety, Chinese sample was high in carbohydrate content and low in ash content. However U.S.A. variety showed about the same protein content as Chinese sample. The size 3, as compared with the size 1, was low in the protein content and high in the carbohydrate content. On the other hand, the ash content was not changed evidently. From the results of analysis of variance, the protein, carbohydrate and ash contents were significantly influenced by the variety in U.S.A. and Chinese sample, and the protein and carbohydrate contents were further influenced by the size of seed in Chinese sample. On the correlation between chemical component pairs, the protein content was negatively correlated with the oil content in U.S.A. variety, and was also negatively correlated with the carbohydrate content in Chinese sample. The oil content was negatively correlated with the carbohydrate content in Chinese sample.