Summary
Initial studies indicate that large scale soybean production in the relatively fertile and unexplored varzeas of Amazonia (areas near the river that are flooded part of the year which leaves a rich sediment on the land) may be highgly feasible if drying and storage facilities are made available and if certain other technical problems, e.g., mechanization of production and harvesting during the wet, rainy period (combining early maturing varieties with early time of planting to harvest within the dry period may be one solution) are solved by further experimentation. Out of 15 varieties tested in this experiment five yielded more than 2000 kg per hectare. Jupiter yielded the highest amount of seeds, i.e., 4588 kg per hectare followed by Williams, Hardee, Improved Pelican, and Semmes with 2628, 2610, 2114, and 2053 kg per hectare respectively. Jupiter required 37 days for flowering, 116 days for maturity, stood erect, had excellent nodulation, and excellent quality of seeds Its seeds contained 43.6 percent protein and 25.3 percent oil. Jupiter showed an amazing degree of resistance to diseases under the most unfavourable conditions of excessive rainfall and humidity under which its seeds also maintained their excellent quality. Improved Pelican also exhibited similar characteristics.