Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya[2022]
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Maize Farming in Kenya Soils and Climate Requirement.
Maize grows best in areas with deep, fertile soils that drain well and receive more than 500 mm of seasonal rainfall. Although maize can tolerate some acidity in the soil, liming will improve the soil and increase maize yields if the soil is too acidic. Both waterlogging and drought can affect maize. Therefore, unless techniques like ridge tillage, drainage, and early planting are used, poorly drained soils should be avoided. It is crucial to conserve water in some way (e.g., by pot-holing, mulching, or tying ridges) during the four-week interval between flowering (silking and tasseling), particularly in the drier locations.
Best Maize Fertilizer Requirements in Kenya.
Before using any fertilizing method, you must first take into account the soil quality of your field through semi-annual or annual soil testing. Nobody can give you fertilization advice without taking into account your soil's test results, tissue analysis, and field history because no two fields are exactly alike.
We will, however, outline several common fertilization strategies that many maize farmers do across the globe.
Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya - Seed Dressing
A category of significant symbiotic microorganisms present in ecosystems are known as mycorrhizal fungi (MF). The root vitality of maize was greatly increased by mycorrhizal symbiosis, particularly for plants that had received bean inoculation. Additionally, a mycorrhiza-based biofertilizer includes mycorrhiza fungus spores (Glomus spp.).
Learn More on Mycorrhiza Based Bio fertilizer HERE
Soil Treatment – Combine 50 kg of Power In, Cow Dung, Compost, or Soil with 4-5 kg of granular mycorrhizal bio fertilizer. When sowing, evenly distribute it across one acre of land after thoroughly blending it. From planting to 50 days of crop, it can be employed.
Seed Treatment – For 1 kg seed (Maize) treatment, mix 2- 10 gm (Depending on seed size) of powder mycorrhiza biofertilizer in sufficient quantity of water.
Benefits of Mycorrhizae Bio-fertilizer in Kenya - “Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya”
• Reduction of irrigation requirements.
• Reduction need for fertilizer.
• Increased drought resistance.
• Increased pathogen resistance.
• Increased plant health and stress tolerance.
• Higher transplanting success.
• Enhanced water and nutrient uptake.
Learn More on the Benefits of Mycorrhizae in Kenya HERE
Mycorrhizae Bio-fertilizer in Kenya, Could greatly increase root vigor, encourage nutrient accumulation, and influence nutrient distribution; these changes are strongly connected with variations in root exudates.
Best Fertilizer for Planting Maize in Kenya - “Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya”
Given that Phosphorus is crucial for the initial phases of root formation, Kenyan maize farmers typically combine all of the P with small amounts of Nitrogen and Potassium as base fertilizer. Applying a lot of K or N at this point, according to the agronomist at Xaxa farms, could cause serious issues. To reduce the danger of causing seedling harm, urea and Diammonium phosphate (DAP) shouldn't be used in the starting band. In the early phases of maize development, the amount of nitrogen in the soil should be adequate if Fabaceae, such as beans, lentils, etc., were previously grown in the same area.
Understanding which nutrient is required for plant growth and at what stage is crucial, though. Otherwise, you risk damaging your crop if you administer a fertilizer at the incorrect time.
Best Fertilizer for Top Dressing in Maize in Kenya.
After Planting, 2-3 weeks, when the maize crop is about 45cm high Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) or Urea is the best fertilizer to apply.
Apply Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at the rate of 50 kg per acre if in a low rainfall area, while in areas with high rainfall; apply the fertilizer in two splits. The first split of fertilizer six weeks after plating and the second after 2 weeks or just before the maize flowers.
Before applying the fertilizer, make sure the soil is moist. Apply fertilizer in a circular motion at the base of each plant or along the row 5 cm away from the plants.
When administered at the proper crop growth stage and at the suggested rate, top dressing fertilizer for maize in Kenya performs at its best.
Due to this: Knowing the important growth stages is essential to choose the right time to apply urea to maize. We examine the crop's primary needs as many crops approach top dressing timing.
Nutrients Requirement in Maize Farming In Kenya
Nitrogen - “Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya”
Heavy nitrogen users include maize. During the various phases of a plant's growth, varying amounts of nitrogen are needed. Nitrogen is a crucial component of the crop since it controls the production and pace of growth of the plant. In accordance with the requirements of the crop, nitrogen should be supplied at various periods, says Xaxa farms' agronomist. This split application technique lessens the possibility of significant nitrogen loss because of rainy weather before the crop can utilize it. Before strong vegetative development starts, maize seems to use less than 10% of its nitrogen.
Potassium - “Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya”
To produce yields that can be sustained, maize also needs potassium. You might not need to give your crops more potassium, though, since just 25% of the absorbed K is kept in the kernels and eliminated before harvest. Through the assimilation of the remaining 75%, the soil is replenished.
Zinc and Iron - “Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya”
According to Xaxa Farms' agronomist, zinc availability declines as soil pH rises, and the majority of zinc shortages are discovered in soils with pH values above 7.0. On soils leveled for irrigation where the subsoil is visible or on soils with high amounts of free lime, zinc shortages can be discovered. Manure may be used to improve soil structure and address Zn deficits in these exposed subsoils.
The availability of iron (Fe) diminishes with increasing soil pH, although most soils in Kenya are appropriately stocked with available Fe for maize production, according to Xaxa Farms' agronomist. The soils that are strongly calcareous (pH greater than 7.8) or those that have been leveled for irrigation and have had the subsoil exposed are where iron deficits are most prone to arise. Yellow stripes on younger leaves are one of the visual signs of Fe deficiency.
Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
The best Foliar fertilizer for maize in Kenya is a type of fertilizer meant to be sprayed directly onto a plant's leaves. Numerous businesses produce a variety of foliar nutrients, ranging from chemical fertilizers for ornamentals to more aggressive organic formulations appropriate for use on food crops.
In addition to fertilizing the soil, foliar sprays are an option as well, particularly to encourage the development of subsequent grains. Numerous Kenyan maize growers have reported using 13-3-44 at the stage of 7-9 leaves and repeating 3 weeks later. They use 200 liters of spray per hectare at a concentration of roughly 2%. These are only a few typical patterns, though, and you should conduct your own research before implementing them.
Maize Fertilizer Requirements per Acre - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
With the proper agronomy and enough moisture, maize can easily reach 9 tons/ha (40 bags per acre), but it does need enough nutrition to do so. The best way to determine how much fertilizer is needed is to multiply the desired yield in tons per hectare by 20–25 kg. This is 160 Kg of nitrogen for a crop that uses 30 bags per acre.
The last step in applying fertilizer correctly is timing; DAP or a compound fertilizer at planting provides an excellent foundation for crop emergence, with the remaining urea administered as a topdressing. By taking into account any remaining nitrogen in the soil profile, soil mineral nitrogen testing can also be helpful.
And finally, Precise Agriculture application is necessary for high yields.
Related; Mycorrhizal bio-fertilizer in Kenya
Related Best Fertilizers in Kenya
Maize Nutrient Deficiencies - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
Calcium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Symptoms starts from the younger maize leaves. Maize Leaf tips show light green or whitish spots or streaky lesions and are often hooked back.
Affect: Younger maize leaves were effected.
Solution; Best fertilizer for maize in Kenya, which is Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Benefit: Cell formation, Cell elongation, and Cell division
Nitrogen Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: The maize leaves turn uniformly pale green colour. The oldest maize leaves on the bottom show yellow discolouration and subsequent necrosis proceeding from the leaf tip to mid rib.
Affect: Affected maize plants show stunted, sparse growth.
Solution; Best fertilizer for maize in Kenya, which is Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)
Benefit: Helps in maize vegetative growth, and formation of amino acids.
Phosphorous Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Maize Leaf margins, veins and stems show purple tints, which may spread over the whole blade. Older maize leaves of the young plants are affected first.
Affect: The reddish discoloration is usually visible in the juvenile stage only.
Solution; Best fertilizer for maize in Kenya, which is Diammonium phosphate (DAP).
Benefit: Root development, and Reduces Stress
Potassium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Dark green maize plants with chlorosis along the leaf margins developing to brown striping and necrosis. The cobs becomes narrowed and peaked.
Affect: Grains in the cob tips are only poorly filed.
Solution; Best fertilizer for maize in Kenya, which is Diammonium phosphate (DAP).
Benefit: Resistance to pests and diseases, opening and closing of stomata.
Magnesium Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Maize Leaves show advanced interveinal chlorosis, necrotic edges. In severe cases, it leads to shortening of the internodes.
Affect: Purpling of older maize leaves.
Solution; Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya with Magnesium.
Benefit: Helps in photosynthesis, and starch translocation
Sulphur Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Maize plant shows stunted, erect growth. Seen from a distance, younger leaves are coloured uniformly pale, but when you look at them closely, it’s rather an intervenial chlorosis.
Affect: Stunted growth.
Solution; Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya with Sulphur e.g. Spray with Thiovit
Benefit: Improves special character in maize crop.
Boron Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Symptoms expressed as shortening of maize intermodal and results in transparent necrotic spots. Lack of boron deficiency will results in smaller maize cobs.
Affect; Death of growing points.
Solution; Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya with Boron.
Benefit: Translocation of sugars and help in pollination.
Zinc Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: White to pale yellow bands in the lower half of the maize leaf which advance to pale brown or grey necrosis.
Affect: Pale green plants.
Solution; Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya with Zinc.
Benefit: Helps in activation of enzymes.
Iron Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
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Symptoms: Maize plants show chlorotic leaves with interveinal stripes. When the deficiency becomes severe, the veins also become chlorotic and the maize plant growth is stunted.
Affect: Symptoms start on younger leaves.
Solution; Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya with Iron.
Benefit: Helps in electron transport chain and helps in maize photosynthesis.
Manganese Deficiency - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya.
Symptoms: Necrosis occurs on the older maize or younger maize leaves. Maize cob development will be irregular, often showing empty tips or diverse kernel size, as well as bent cobs
Affect: Less tightly packed kernel.
Solution; Best foliar fertilizer for maize in Kenya with manganese.
Benefit: It involves wide range of enzymes process include hormone synthesis
Conclusion - Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
With Best Maize Fertilizer in Kenya, An average yield of 40 bags per acre can be anticipated if all agronomic guidelines are followed and growing conditions are ideal. Remember that maize variety matters as well because some have superior yields than others. Timing is crucial when applying the optimum fertilizer for maize in Kenya. Don't forget to get a soil test done so you can be sure which nutrients you should apply to the soil and which you should avoid.
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