Best Watermelon Fertilizer | Watermelon Farming in Kenya.
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What is fertilizer?- Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
Types of Fertilizer - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
Nitrogen Fertilizers - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
Phosphorus Fertilizer - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
Organic Fertilizers - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
- Agricultural waste
- Cattle manure
- Industrial waste
- Municipal sludge
Watermelon Fertilizer Recommendation - Best Fertilizer for Watermelon
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 - |
|
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 - |
|
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 - |
|
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
• 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
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- 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 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 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
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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