Arrowroot is in the category of root plants. It is one of the crops that is winning most of the hearts of Kenyan farmers as their favourite root food, increasing its demand. Therefore, farmers are trying their best to ensure the rising demand is filled. However, this cannot be achieved without the right fertilizer because well-fertilized arrowroot will guarantee high returns and increased profits after harvest.
That brings us to our discussion on the best fertilizer for arrowroots in Kenya.
Here is a list of the five best fertilizers for arrowroots in Kenya:
1. D.A.P. (Diammonium Phosphate) Fertilizer
D.A.P. fertilizer contains 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphorus. D.A.P. is manufactured by reacting ammonia with phosphoric acid under controlled conditions in fertilizer plants.
4 Reasons Why D.A.P. Fertilizer is the Best for Arrowroots
Di-ammonium Phosphate, popularly known as D.A.P., is a preferred fertilizer for arrowroots since it contains both nitrogen and phosphorus, which are primary macro-nutrients and part of the 18 essential nutrients required by the arrowroots for the following reasons:
1. D.A.P. has ammonium, an excellent source of nitrogen quickly converted to nitrate by the soil, which helps regulate the soil pH.
2. D.A.P. has sulphur that contributes to the intake of nitrogen and phosphorous by the arrowroot plants.
3. D.A.P. is the most concentrated phosphate-based fertilizer and provides phosphorous nutrients to your arrowroots throughout the growth period.
4. D.A.P. fertilizer is a starter dose of nitrogen with low sulphur, which is beneficial to your arrowroots at an early stage.
2. N.P.K. (Nitrogen potassium and phosphorous) Fertilizer
N.P.K. fertilizer is a combination of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium with a ratio of 2:1:1, which is an ideal ratio for arrowroots.
4 Reasons Why N.P.K. Fertilizer is the Best fertilizer for Arrowroots in Kenya
N.P.K. fertilizer is useful to your arrowroots for the following reasons:
1. Has nitrogen that helps your arrowroots in the growth of leaves and in enhancing the quality of the harvest from the plant product.
2. Phosphorous in N.P.K. helps to produce healthy flowers, buds, roots, and fruits.
3. N.P.K. fertilizer has potassium, which is used in arrowroots to sustain overall health and regulate plant processes.
4. N.P.K. fertilizer contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which are constituents of protein and nucleic acids that are essential components of plant tissue.
3. Farm Yard Manure (F.Y.M.)
Farm Yard Manure is made from animals’ waste or other decomposable synthetic materials or plants’ remains. It is well-known for its long-term value to both the arrowroots and the soil structure; well-decomposed manure is critical in ensuring a longer supply of deficient minerals and nutrients and maintaining the arrowroot plant’s health.
6 Reasons Why Manure is the Best Fertilizer for Arrowroots in Kenya
The farm yard is highly rich in organic matter and humus and is beneficial for the following reasons:
1. Farm Yard manure is environmentally friendly and is better in the long run as renewable energy.
2. Farmyard manure is rich in organic manure, and humus helps the arrowroots and provides moisture to the soil for a long period during the dry season.
3. Farmyard manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, nutrient elements that help the arrowroot plant flourish.
4. Farmyard manure returns essential macro-element such as magnesium, sulphur, manganese, and calcium to the Soil while maintaining soil fertility
5. Farmyard manure helps in reducing soil acidity, thereby stabilizing the soil pH.
6. Farmyard manure prevents topsoil from erosion by acting as mulch, protecting essential minerals for the arrowroots.
4. CAN (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) Fertilizer
CAN is a fertilizer containing calcium and nitrogen, essential mineral nutrients that facilitate the arrowroots’ growth.
4 Reasons Why CAN is the Best Fertilizer to Top Dress your Arrowroots
CAN is a suitable fertilizer for straight application and blending and helps the arrowroots in the following ways:
1. CAN improve the plant’s resistance to stress, such as drought, frost, and certain diseases.
2. CAN provide continuous nitrogen supply to arrowroots, resulting in better use and making it suitable for out-of-season application.
3. CAN is considered near-neutral in its effect on the soil and thus can be used even on soils with high pH without lowering it.
4 CAN is a suitable fertilizer for perennial fruit crops where soil pH is difficult to achieve with lime.
5. Urea Fertilizer
Urea fertilizer has 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer and the best choice for nitrogen deficient soils. It is used for top dressing.
4 Reasons Why Urea is Suitable Fertilizer for your Arrowroots
Urea provides nitrogen, which is a single major nutrient that is beneficial for the following reasons:
1. It helps to improve the soil quality and boost the health of the arrowroots.
2. Provide nitrogen to the plant to promote the green, leafy growth of the arrowroots.
3. Urea fertilizer is a neutral fertilizer and can adapt to many soils in Kenya
4. Urea can only provide nitrogen, no phosphorous or potassium, and thus can primarily be used for bloom growth in your arrowroots.
Fertilizer Schedule for the Arrowroots
D.A.P. fertilizer and manure are used during planting at 50 kg per acre and 5 tonnes per acre, respectively. Farmers should top-dress the arrowroots in the second month after weeding. The top dressing fertilizer used is CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate). CAN fertilizer is applied at the rate of 50 kg per acre.
In the fifth month, you can boost the plants with three spoons of N.P.K. or D.A.P; after one month, add two spoons of urea. After two months, add two spoons of CAN; in the fourth month, add N.P.K. and CAN. In the sixth month, add two spoons of CAN fertilizer.
Arrowroots Fertilizer Ratio
The application ratio of fertilizer to arrowroots is 300 to 400 kg of 14:14:14 per hectare. Arrowroots respond well to fertilizers during application. Irrigation is needed if the moisture in the soil is not enough, especially at the early stages of the plant’s growth.
4 Do and Don’ts when Applying Fertilizer on Arrowroots
1. Urea should not be mixed with other chemicals, such as nitric acid, since it may be hazardous.
2. Do not top dress the arrowroot crops while their leaves are wet; otherwise, scorching may occur.
3. Choose a day with good weather, preferably for broadcasting your fertilizer; avoid applying fertilizer in hot weather.
4. Ensure uniform fertilizer distribution across the entire area of operation, and immediately cover the fertilizer furrow.
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