Elemental Compositions of Soybean Cultivars Cultivated in Turkey

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is annual plants species and is locally known as „Soya Fasülyesi“. Soybean is consumed as a food and vegetable plant and its recorded folkloric usages for the medicinal purposes.

In this present study macro (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na,) and trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) of soybean cultivars cultivated under the controlled conditions in Turkey have been studied. Macro and trace elements were determined by using various techniques. N was determined by the dry combustion method using elemental analyses, P was measured by a colorimetric method, whereas K and Na by flame photometry. Finally Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn was detected and quantified by atomic absorption spectrocopy (AAS). All experiments were performed qualitatively and quantitatively with comparison to a certified reference plant material statistically.

The results of elemental analyses showed that N ranged 5.41–5.82%, P ranged 5250–6100 ppm and K ranged 15915–19645 ppm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on micro and macro elements of cultivated Turkish soybean cultivars. As a conclusion, the elemental composition and the nutritional value soybean cultivars are worthwhile to investigate with comparison to other Glycine sp. used medicinally.