覆蓋兼綠肥用大豆新品種台南6號係台南區農業改良場與中興大學、嘉義大學共同合作育成,適合果園草生栽培及水旱田綠肥栽培。本品種採用雜交育種方法育成,於1986年夏作進行人工雜交,親本為中興3號與野生大豆(G. soja)(日本引進)。雜交後代F2~F6的分離以混合法實施,F7世代選出優良品系代號CH3×78-68(台南育7號),經品系試驗、區域試驗及栽培法試驗,顯示具小粒種子、低矮匍匐、覆蓋速率快、鮮草產量高,生育期180天以上之特性,供果園草生栽培,可減少殺草劑使用及人工除草,以及供綠肥種植,增加綠肥多樣化。於2001年7月經行政院農業委員會召集之作物新品種登記命名審查小組審查通過,並予以推廣。台南6號對光期敏感,植株屬無限生長型,春作覆蓋高度為50.7公分,夏作覆蓋高度約48公分。主莖長度春作可達290∼370公分,秋作75.3∼97.5公分,分枝數5∼7枝。主莖節數17∼20個,生育日數春作179∼190天,夏作118∼139天,秋作96∼122天。做為果園草生栽培,於3月初播種,播種後60天可全面覆蓋果園地表,播種後120天鮮草產量達到最高,播種後200天植株成熟後自然乾枯,枝葉覆蓋地表不需翻耕,至翌年春重新播種達到果園週年性之覆蓋。台南6號適合綠肥栽培,每公頃播種量約30公斤,生育80天每公頃鮮草產量春作19,717∼35,000公斤,夏作17,333∼34,667公斤,氮素含量106∼237公斤。秋作適合台南地區採種,每公頃人工收穫的種子產量1,634∼2,233公斤。種子橢圓形,種皮黑色帶有一點深褐色斑紋,子葉黃色,臍黑色,百粒重5∼8公克。
Tainan No. 6 is a new covering and green manure soybean cultivar developed by The Tainan District Agricultural Improvement Station, National Chung-Hsing University and National Chia-yi University. This variety was selected from the population of cross Chung-Hsing No.3 × Glycine soja (introduced from Japen) made in 1986. The generations from F2 to F6 were advanced using bulk method. The breeding line named ”Tainan yu 7” was selected in F7 generation in the spring of 1995. The line was selected in a series of yield trials and regional yield trials. There are many good characteristics such as small size of seed, fast growing, high biomass, extended period of groud coverage, well adapted to green manure and covering utilizations on orchard for weed control. It was released with the agreement of The New Crop Cultivar Designation, Registration and Inspection Committee organized by the Council of Agriculture of the Executive-Yuan, R.O.C. Tainan No. 6 is photosensitive to the long day length during the spring season. The maturities are 179~190, 118~139 and 96~122 days for spring, summer and fall seasons respectively. The length of main stem is about 290 to 370 centimeters in the spring season and 75.3 to 97.5 centimeters in the fall season. It has purple flower and trifoliolate oval leaflets. The 100-seed weight is 5 to 8 grams. The seed coat is black with a little brown spot and black hilum. The yield of green manure harvested in 80 days of growth is around 19,717 to 35,000 kg/ha and 17,333 to 34,667 kg/ha for spring and summer seasons respectively. The nitrogen content is around 106 to 237 kg/ha. The fall season in Tainan area is suit for seed propogation, which will yield around 1,634 to 2,233 kg/ha.