ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the sustainable production of soybean through the development of best management practices (BMPs). Before we can describe these practices, we must first understand what a BMP is. A BMP can be defined as the optimal way to achieve a desired goal within the resources available (Black’s Law Dictionary). In our context, agricultural BMPs can be defined more specifically as ‘management, agronomic and technological practices that can permit economic and viable production while achieving the least possible adverse impact on the environment’ (Anon. 2002). BMPs are thus management, agronomic and technological practices that optimize the profitability of soybean production while minimizing adverse effects on the environment.