Best Watermelon Fertilizer | Watermelon Farming in Kenya.

best-fertilizer-for-watermelon,
best-fertilizer-for-watermelon,

Watermelon fertilizers are added to crops to produce enough food to feed the human population. Fertilizers provide crops with nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which help crops grow faster and produce more food. Nitrogen in particular is an essential nutrient for the growth of all organisms on Earth. Nitrogen surrounds us everywhere and makes up about 78% of the air we breathe. However, plants and animals cannot use nitrogen gas from the air. To grow, plants need nitrogen compounds from the soil, which can be produced naturally or provided by fertilizers. However, the application of excessive amounts of fertilizer results in the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the eutrophication of our waterways. Scientists are currently trying to find solutions to reduce the harmful effects of fertilizers on the environment, without reducing the amount of food we can produce using them.

What is fertilizer?- Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

A fertilizer is a substance or material added to the soil that promotes plant growth. There are many varieties of fertilizer and most contain nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Indeed, fertilizers sold in stores have an N-P-K ratio on their packaging. Fertilizers are applied all over the world to keep grass green and produce more crops in agricultural fields. Fertilizers can be divided into three groups:

Types of Fertilizer - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

There are six different types of fertilizers which are mentioned below:
inorganic fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers are chemical fertilizers that contain nutrients for growing crops made by chemical means. Inorganic fertilizers are of the following types:

Nitrogen Fertilizers - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Nitrogen fertilizers contain the nitrogen needed for crop development. Nitrogen is the main constituent of chlorophyll which maintains balance in the process of photosynthesis. It is also part of the amino acids of plants and constitutes a protein. Nitrogen fertilizers improve the production and quality of agricultural products.

Phosphorus Fertilizer - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

The main nutrient in a phosphorus fertilizer is phosphorus. The effectiveness of fertilizers depends on the actual phosphorus content, fertilization methods, soil properties and crop varieties. Phosphorus present in cell protoplasm plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. Phosphorus fertilizer is beneficial for plant root growth.

Organic Fertilizers - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Organic fertilizers are natural fertilizers obtained from plants and animals. It enriches the soil with carbon compounds essential for plant growth. Organic fertilizers increase the organic matter content of the soil, promote the reproduction of microorganisms and modify the physical and chemical properties of the soil. It is considered one of the main nutrients in green foods.

Organic fertilizers can be obtained from the following products:

  • Agricultural waste
  • Cattle manure
  • Industrial waste
  • Municipal sludge

Watermelon Fertilizer Recommendation - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Watermelon is a cool-season fruit that is typically harvested in the late summer or early fall. This means that watermelon is one of the fruits that benefits the most from a fertilizer application in the late fall or winter.

A nitrogen fertilizer will help the watermelon grow larger and produce more fruit. A phosphorus fertilizer will help the watermelon grow thicker skin and a sweeter flavor. A potassium fertilizer will help the watermelon grow larger and juicier fruit

Choosing the Best Fertilizer for Watermelon Farming in Kenya

Despite the fact that watermelons need a wide range of micronutrients to grow, we will only concentrate on the most prevalent based on various growth stages;


Pre-Planting Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Pre-Planting Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Nitrogen and potassium

Help in seed development

Phosphorus

Promotes root growth

Calcium

Stimulate root and leaf growth

Boron, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum

These nutrients promote healthy shoot growth.

Nitrogen and phosphorus

Necessary to stimulate growth


Planting Stage-Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Planting Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Potassium and magnesium

Before flowering

Calcium

To boost plant growth

Boron

To promote fruit set and flowering

Sulfur

Required for protein synthesis to ensure leaf quality and unrestricted growth


Flowering Stage- Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Flowering Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Potassium

Essential for plant growth and floral production

Phosphorus

Necessary for fruit development.

Calcium

Promotes crop reproduction and ensures adequate supply during early fruiting

Magnesium

Promotes flowering and production

Boron and zinc

Enhance flower initiation, development, and fruiting

Manganese, molybdenum, and zinc

All contribute to healthy fruit development


Fruiting Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Fruiting Stage - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Nitrogen

To be used sparingly to ensure fruit fil

Potassium

To help prevent diseases

Calcium

Helps maintain the rind’s firmness

Magnesium

To increase flowering

Boron

Helps maintain a healthy skin finish and promote calcium deliverability

 


Types of Melon Nutrient Deficiencies to Look Out For - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Sulfur Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Sulfur-Deficiency, watermelon-farming-in-kenya.
Sulfur insufficiency can be identified by observing the leaves. Sulfur is required if the leaves are a yellowish-pale green color. Sulfur shortage may result from a number of circumstances. Which are; 

Planting watermelons in acidic soils

Planting in Sandy Soils

Lack of organic matter in the soil

The soil is devoid of organic matter, which is important for the development of chlorophyll and the effective use of nitrogen.

Calcium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

calcium-deficiency, water-melon-farming-in-kenya.
calcium-deficiency, water-melon-farming-in-kenya.
A calcium deficiency can be seen in leaves that may appear mottled or that have an unsteady color. Younger and more severely harmed leaves may have veins that are yellow and green in color. It is usual for them to begin to crack because the melon may have weak cells. A lack of calcium can also appear as:

  • Dropping flowers
  • Signs of Blossom End Rot (BER)
  • Watermelons might have a hollow heart
  • Fruits begin to split with the internal flesh browning and becoming watery.
  • Large doses of calcium are needed to promote good fruit growth because the majority of calcium is stored in the leaves and stems.

Calcium insufficiency can be worsened by several factors.

Acidic soils

Sandy soils

Acidic peat soils

Soils that are high in sodium

Aluminium-bearing soils

Drought

Feeding the fruits with large amounts of nitrogen and potassium

Calcium is important because it helps in:

Root Development - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Proper leaf and fruit development

It reduces the chances of rot

Magnesium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

magnesium-deficiency, water-melon-farming-in-kenya.
To determine if the leaves require magnesium, look for interveinal chloroses, which cause the leaves to turn whitish while the leaf veins remain green.

Magnesium deficiency can be worsened by:

Acidic soils

Potassium-deficient soils

Soils that have been treated with a high dose of potassium

Periods of cold, damp weather

Magnesium is necessary for increased photosynthetic activity and to increase yields

Nitrogen Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

Starting with the oldest leaves, the leaves remain small and turn a light green color. Thin, fibrous, and brittle stems develop. There are fewer fruits produced because there are fewer blossoms.




Potassium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 

potassium-deficiency-watermelon-farming-in-kenya. (1)
Examining the leaves is the simplest way to determine whether your melons need more potassium. The leaves will appear wavy if there is a potassium shortage. An event called "leaf scorch" causes the edges of older leaves to deteriorate. Brown patches on the leaves are not unusual, and because less food is generated, the size of the melon fruit shrinks.

Potassium deficiency can be made worse by:

Acidic soils

Planting in sandy soils

Drought

Excessive rainfall (leaching) or irrigation

Planting in Soils with a high percentage of clay

Planting in Soils with depleted potassium

Potassium is important because it:

Increases the leaf quality

Enhances the efficiency of the plant’s water management system

It makes fruit disease resistant

It enhances resilience especially when you are planting in cold regions

Molybdenum Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon 


Molybdenum Deficiency in Watermelon Farming in Kenya.

The term "yellows sickness" can also refer to molybdenum insufficiency. Interveinal and marginal chlorosis with charred margins are initially visible in crown leaves. There may be tiny pale spots on the leaf blade, which deforms and stunts the leaves. When the condition is severe, the leaves shrink and the leaf margins curl. In the plant, nitrate builds up and reduces fruit set. Molybdenum deficiency, which is more common in acidic soils with a pH of 4.5 or lower, can affect melon.

In a nutshell, the fertilizer that contains the aforementioned nutrients is the best for growing melons. Knowing which nutrients are required at different stages of the growth cycle is the challenge. As a rule of thumb, never plant melons without first testing the soil.

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