Soybean

The soybean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean, which has numerous uses. Traditional unfermented food uses of soybeans include soybean meal and tofu. Fat-free soybean meal is a significant and cheap source of protein for animal feeds and many packaged meals. Soybeans are also a primary source of vegetable oil and are utilized in various industrial applications. As a legume, soybeans harbor a symbiotic bacterium called Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which has the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. This makes soybeans an invaluable crop in agricultural rotations, as they enrich the soil with vital nutrients and reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. The plant itself is an annual herb featuring trifoliate leaves, inconspicuous white or purple flowers, and hairy pods containing two to four seeds each.