People often plant grass, which can be done for a variety of reasons, depending on the grower’s goals. But it can be grown either as a lawn for its looks or as a crop for money. So, fertilizing is an important practice that helps stop diseases and weeds from taking over, changes the color of your grass, and makes it stronger so it can handle stress while it’s growing. This article illustrates some of the best fertilizers for grass in Kenya.
When choosing a grass fertilizer, it is important to remember that nitrogen is the most important nutrient, but in a controlled amount. Excess nitrogen causes too much top growth, especially on lawns, which can cause a number of problems.
The following are the 5 best fertilizers for grass in Kenya:
1. NPK Fertilizer
NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; thus, it is a compound fertilizer, and the nitrogen ratio to be used should be the highest.
Why Is NPK Best Fertilizer for Grass?
Below are five reasons why NPK is the best fertilizer for grass in Kenya:
1. Reduces the Production Cost
The higher the percentage of nitrogen fertilizers used, the less actual fertilizer product is needed compared to fertilizers with a low percent of nitrogen.
2. NPK May Consist of Fast-Release or Controlled-Release Nitrogen
Nitrogen fertilizer may consist of fast-release or controlled-release nitrogen. However, fertilizers containing controlled-release nitrogen sources are the most commonly suggested for grass applications.
3. NPK Fertilizer Phosphorus Is Important for the Grassroots
Phosphorus is in NPK, and it helps keep the roots of grass healthy. It also helps the grass grow stems and flowers.
4. NPK Has Potassium That Enables Grass to Be Resistant to Drought
NPK has potassium, which plays a key role in the grasses’ health, aids in flowering, and enables them to tolerate stress, especially during drought.
5. Nitrogen in NPK Facilitates the Foliage Growth in Grass
NPK has nitrogen, which is a building block for new stems and leaves with chlorophyll, which increases the green color matter on the grass leaves and also helps in photosynthesis.
2. CAN (Calcium, Ammonium, and Nitrate)
CAN fertilizer is made by combining calcium carbonate and ammonium nitrate and contains 26% nitrogen, making it ideal as the best fertilizer for grass in Kenya.
Reasons Why CAN Is the Best Fertilizer for Grass in Kenya
1. CAN helps the grass be resistant to stressors such as drought, certain diseases, and frost.
2. CAN is easy to use, is suitable for straight application, and is also good for blending.
3. CAN is a high-quality fertilizer and is used for pre-planting or as a top dresser
4. CAN is made up of 26% nitrogen, which makes it ideal for grass since it requires a lot of nitrogen.
5. CAN is a high-quality fertilizer and is very beneficial to the quality of your grasses.
3. LAN (28) (Lime Ammonium Nitrate) fertilizer
Fertilizer LAN (28) contains 28% nitrogen, composed of 50% ammonium and 50% nitrate. Also, LAN-28 has 20% dolomitic lime, which means that it has about 4.1% calcium and 2.1% magnesium.
Reasons Why LAN fertilizer is Best for Grass in Kenya
1. LAN (28) is a source of nitrogen, magnesium, and calcium, which produce wonderful green grass.
2. LAN (28) contains ammonium and nitrate, which are readily available for uptake by the grasses.
3. LAN (28) is the best fertilizer for grass because it has low volatilization and toxicity and can be spread like seed.
4. LAN (28) is not water-soluble
4. Urea Fertilizer
Urea has 46% of Nitrogen, making it the most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer. It is mostly recommended for topdressing and works best when it is applied at the right growth stage of the maize plant.
4 Reasons why Urea is the Best Fertilizer for Grass in Kenya
1. Urea has a higher density with good handling and storage properties.
2. Urea fertilizer has a good potential for volatilization. When applied to the surface, urease easily converts it to ammonium carbonate.
3. Urea fertilizer has an excellent response to fluctuating weather conditions and can still provide nitrogen even when the soils are cold.
4. Urea fertilizer is cheap compared to other nitrogenous fertilizers, which keeps the cost of making it low.
5. Urea has 46% nitrogen, which is a key component in carrying out various plant processes by allowing chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis in the grass plant.
6. Urea is the best fertilizer since it does not harm the soil.
5. Organic Manure Fertilizer
Poultry manure is the most preferred manure suitable for your grass since it is rich in nutrient elements, more so nitrogen, which is more required by the grass for healthy and green growth.
5 Reasons Why Organic Fertilizer is the Best for Grass in Kenya
1. Manure is a natural fertilizer rich in nitrogen, especially poultry manure, that encourages the green and vegetative growth of your grass.
2. Besides nitrogen, manure also contains phosphorus, which plays a crucial role in establishing the roots of the grass.
3. Manure also has other nutrients needed by the grass, making it the most reliable and cheapest fertilizer, which enables you to maximize your cost since it reduces the cost of production.
4. Manure acts as mulch for the grass, thus improving the water and nutrient capacity of the soil.
5. Manure promotes the soil structure hence reducing soil erosion and leach
Fertilizer Application Ratio for Grass
Since grass requires a lot of nitrogen, ensure the fertilizer is used with a high content of nitrogen nutrients as indicated by the initials of the three ratio numbers on the fertilizer bag; for instance, the recommended NPK is 3:1:2 or 4:1:2.
Dos and Don’ts When Applying Fertilizer on Grass
1. Do not apply if the maximum temperature is expected to be 30 °C or above or if the grass has been suffering from heat or moisture stress.
2. Make sure to fertilize your grass on a regular basis to give it the essential nutrients it needs to grow.
3. While applying fertilizer, ensure you take action to avoid excess nitrogen since it results in top growth that may lead to an undesired flush of growth, especially in lawns.
4. While using urea, ensure you avoid excess ammonia since it may likely burn your grass.
5. When choosing a fertilizer, ensure you use the right ratio to minimize the production cost and problems associated with under-fertilization and excess fertilization.
10 10 10 Fertilizer for Grass
10-10-10 fertilizer is considered a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer that you can use on your grasses. The ratio number 10:10:10 represents the amount of nutrients content present in it, commonly referred to as NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium)
