Soybean is a member of pulses and probably the most valuable crop in world. Fertilization is
one of the main economic and health-promoting factors in crop cultivation. Foliar application
during the flowering stage using 4 phosphorus (P) doses (4, 6, 8 and 10 kg ha-1) as experiment-1
and 4 sulphur (S) doses (5, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) as experiment-2 except control in the soybean
variety Nova was performed in Konya, Turkey, in two years (2013 and 2014), in a randomized
block design with 3 replications. The investigated nutrition parameters were protein
(316.5-368.3 g kg-1), mineral components (in mg kg-1): P (6200-7350), K (8141-8302), Mg
(951-1267), Ca (1083-1419), Fe (61.20-97.90), Cu (22.10-35.60), Zn (62.30-85.30), Mn (3.600-18.90)
and fatty acids (in g kg-1): myristic (0.76-0.81), palmitic (109.3-115.1), stearic (41.32-50.12),
oleic (229.4-266.7), linoleic (487.4-520.3), linolenic (70.58-85.32), arachidic (3.77-4.32), gadoleic
(2.49-4.05), eicosadienoic (0.43-0.63), eicosatrienoic (3.76-4.11), lignoceric (1.33-1.46), nervonic
(0.13-0.58) and docohexaenoic (0.24-0.68) acid. Statistical analysis showed significant levels for
Mn (P applied at 5% level), myristic acid (S at 1% level), palmitic (P at 1% level), stearic (P at
1% level), linolenic (P at 1% level), nervonic (P at 5% level) and for docohexaenoic acid (P and S
at 5% level). In general, the content of protein, Mg, Mn, palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids
showed an increasing tendency with the increased doses of phosphorus. Additionally, protein,
Cu, Zn, palmitic, linolenic, gadoleic, eicosadienoic and docohexaenoic acids showed an increasing
tendency with the increased doses of sulphur. Consequently, the response of soybean plants to
foliar application of S and especially P during the flowering period entailed significant changes,
especially in protein and essential fatty acids. The results can be used in nutritional medicine
and by farmers, food companies, breeders, etc.
