History of the soybean

This chapter attempts to combine information from many disciplines to establish a solid foundation for understanding the history of the soybean. 

The history of the dissemination of the soybean is, of course, only partially known. We must recognize that it is not uncommon for traders, travelers, emissaries, and government ofRcials to leave few or no records. Then again, it is foolish to believe that a certain plant can be introduced into a new area only once and then only by a certain route (Ho, 1955). 

Asia has grown soybeans for centuries. China is considered to be the area where soybean was domesticated (Hymowitz, 1970), from which it then spread to other countries. Probst and Judd (1973) presented a review of the origin and early history of soybean. They also reviewed the early history of the use of soybean in the United States. The soybean was first introduced into the United States in 1765 by Samuel Bowen (Hymowitz Harlan, 1983). Additional information on soybean production and use, especially in the United States through 2002, was presented by Smith and Huyser (1987) and Wilcox (2004). Somewhere in the middle part of the twentieth century the United States became the largest soybean producer and remains so currently. In 2006/07 the United States produced about 37% of the world s soybean supply, Brazil about 25%, Argentina about 19% and China about 7% (Table 2.1). 

Beversdorf, W.D. R.I. Buzzell G.R. Ablett H.D. Voldeng. Soybean. In Harvest of Gold. The History of Field Crop Breeding in Canada (A.E. Slinkard, D.R. Knott, Eds.) University Extension Press Saskatoon, Canada, 1995. 

Piper, C.G. W.J. Morse. The soybean History, varieties and field studies. USDA Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 197. U.S. Gov. Print. Office Washington, D.C., 1910. 

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