Maize is a staple food in Kenya. Because of this, most farmers grow it for both commercial and personal use, both on a large and small scale. Maize is considered a heavy feeder, and its fertilizer requirement depends on the soil fertility and the yield target. Maize requires two nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, which are the most important; moreover, maize also requires potassium and a small quantity of zinc in some soil.
The best fertilizers for maize in Kenya are:
1. Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) Fertilizer
DAP fertilizer is an excellent source of phosphorus (p) and nitrogen (N), essential plant nutrients. It is also highly soluble and dissolves quickly in soil to release phosphorus and ammonium to plants, and it is most needed during the early stage.
1. DAP has sulphur that contributes to the maize plant’s intake of nitrogen and phosphorous.
2. DAP has ammonium, an excellent nitrogen source, which is quickly converted to nitrate by the soil to help regulate the soil pH.
3. DAP fertilizer is a starter dose of nitrogen with low sulphur, which benefits the maize plant, especially during the early stage since the roots will be underdeveloped.
4. DAP is the most concentrated phosphate-based fertilizer that helps accumulate sugar in the maize roots and the corns during development.
2. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) Fertilizer
CAN fertilizer contains nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates, magnesium, and calcium, which are easily absorbed and essential to plants’ physiological functioning, enabling the maize to grow vegetative growth and become richer in green colour. Also, they give plants the nutrients they need to make up for the lack of light and damage caused by acid.
3. NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium) Fertilizer
NPK is a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; this is the most recommended fertilizer for corn to enable it to be more productive and produce high yields.
Below are five reasons why NPK is the best fertilizer for maize in Kenya:
1. NPK Has Potassium
The presence of potassium aids in the definition of maize growth characteristics, since it helps in the growth and development associated with quality, such as the size, shape, colour, and taste of the maize corn.
2. NPK Fertilizer Contains Amino Acids
The nitrogen in the NPK fertilizer is a significant component of amino acids, the basis of protein; it also aids in the compound that allows the use and storage of energy.
3. NPK Fertilizer Has Phosphorous
Phosphorous is essential in maize plants, as it aids in the growth of the maize roots, promotes blooming, and is essential to the DNA of the maize plant.
4. NPK Fertilizer Aids in Various Plant Processes
NPK fertilizer contains nitrogen, a crucial element in carrying out various plant processes by allowing chlorophyll in the maize plant to carry out photosynthesis.
5. NPK Fertilizer Contributes to Healthy and Quality Maize
NPK has phosphorus that plays a significant role in the maize’s health and growth since it contributes to structural strength, seed production, and crop quality.
4. Urea Fertilizer
Urea has 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer. It is mainly recommended for topdressing and works best when applied at the correct growth stage of the maize plant.
4 Reasons Why Urea is the Best Fertilizer for Maize 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 comprises 46% of nitrogen, which is a critical component in various plant processes, including photosynthesis in the maize plant.
4. Urea is the best fertilizer since its use does not harm the soil.
5. Manure Fertilizer
Manure is an organic fertilizer mainly made of animal feces, plant materials, and compost; it is the best and most environmentally friendly fertilizer and very beneficial to soil fertility.
4 Reasons Why Manure is the Best Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
1. The manure’s organic matter helps maintain the soil’s structure.
2. Manure helps improve the soil’s water retention capacity.
3. Manure protects the soil from erosion by wind or surface run-off.
4. Manure stay long in the soil, thereby releasing slowly nutrient to the crops hence improving the health of the maize plant
Deficient Nutrient Elements
The maize plant may not have enough nutrients, which could be a big problem for your production and cause you to get low production yields.
Below are five common nutrient deficiencies experienced in maize production:
1. Boron deficiency.
2. Magnesium deficiency.
3. Sulphur deficiency.
4. Zinc deficiency.
5. Nitrogen deficiency.
Fertilizer Recommendation for Maize
NPK fertilizer is the best fertilizer for growing maize because it is a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, with phosphorus making up the most of the fertilizer. It is the most important nutrient for maize plants.
Belo is the recommended fertilizer dose for maize:
At the right agronomic conditions, an acre produces about 35–40 bags; however, the required nutrition to achieve this is calculated by multiplying 20–25 kg based on the target yields after harvest; an acre requires 160 kg of nitrogen per acre at a balanced ratio of 15:1:1 of NPK.
NPK Fertilizer for Maize
NPK is a compound fertilizer that provides the maize with a combination of several nutrients, and the best fertilizer should give the plant the nutrients the soil lacks.
Fertilizer Schedule for Maize in Kenya
Apply Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer or NPK fertilizer at 50 kg per acre during planting. If you are planting by hand, place a teaspoonful or soda bottle cap of fertilizer into each planting hole.
Top dress your maize after 2-3 weeks, or when the crop is about 45 cm high or at knee height, with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) or Urea at a rate of 50 kg per acre if you farm in a low rainfall area.
If you are planting the maize in areas with high rainfall, apply the fertilizer in two splits. Apply the first split six weeks after planting and the second after two weeks or just before the maize flowers.
Is Urea Fertilizer Good for Maize?
Yes, Urea is good for maize since it contains a nitrogen element suitable for plant optimization and also plays a significant role in the maize plant’s vegetative growth during its early development phases. However, Urea is mainly used for top dressing in maize.
Best Foliar Fertilizer for Maize in Kenya
NPK fertilizer is recommended to be applied as per the soil test results, but if the results are unavailable, use 135:62.5:50 kg of NPK per hectare and 37.5 kg of zinc per hectare.
How Many 50-kg Bags of Fertilizer per Hectare of Maize?
A hectare requires 150 kg of fertilizer, which requires three bags of 50 kg each.
Yara Fertilizer for Maize
Yara Fertilizer Company manufactures a wide range of maize fertilizers that are both unique and cost-effective for farmers.
Below are two crucial Yara fertilizers for your maize plant:
1. The Yara Microp is used for planting.
2. Yara Microp for Top-dressing.
Top Dressing Fertilizer
Nitrates are the best fertilizers formulated to be used primarily for topdressing. However, compound fertilizers can also be used. The following are four fertilizers used for top-dressing maize in Kenya:
1. CAN (Calcium, Ammonium, Nitrate) fertilizers.
2. Urea fertilizer.
3. NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium).
