For the longest time, sugarcane has been an important raw material for many of the sugar production industries, a source of revenue for the country, and also the biggest source of income for most of the farmers in Kenya today. However, finding the right fertilizer is a challenge for most farmers. In this article, we will offer you the best fertilizer solution for your sugarcane.
Sugarcane needs a lot of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), so fertilizers that contain these nutrients are the best choice.
The six sugarcane fertilizers are as follows:
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 the sugarcane plants, which are most needed during the young stage.
4 Reasons Why DAP is the Best Fertilizer for Sugarcane in Kenya
1. DAP has sulphur that contributes to the sugarcane plant’s intake of nitrogen and phosphorous.
2. DAP has ammonium, which is an excellent source of nitrogen and 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 sulfur, which is beneficial to the sugarcane 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 sugarcane roots and in the cane stem during development.
2. SSP Fertilizer
SSP is a phosphatic fertilizer that contains three major plant nutrients, namely phosphorus, sulfur, and calcium, along with traces of many micronutrients.
4. Reasons Why SSP is the Best Fertilizer for Sugarcane in Kenya
1. SSP is useful in acidic soils as it has calcium, which helps increase the sugarcane yields since acidic soil is low in calcium.
2. SSP fertilizer increases the strike rate of cuttings, stimulates root development, and improves plant growth.
3. SSP is effective in a range of soils and climates in Kenya and does not affect the acidity of the soil.
4. Single Super Phosphate also contains Sulphur and Calcium, which is beneficial for Sulphur deficient soil.
3. MOP (Muriate Potash) Fertilizer
MOP is a refined fertilizer made from sylvinite ore or extracted from carnallitic brine. MOP is also used to produce NPK fertilizer as a source of potassium and as a raw material for industrial uses.
4 Reasons Why MOP Is the Best Fertilizer for Sugarcane in Kenya
1. MOP fertilizer contains potassium and chloride elements, making it a better product for water retention, improvement of colour, taste, texture, and disease resistance in sugarcane.
2. MOP contains 60% potash, which is essential for plant growth and quality. It is also a key part of how proteins and sugars are made in the sugarcane plant.
3. MOP helps protect the sugarcane against drought by maintaining the plant’s water content, which in turn is beneficial for photosynthesis as leaves maintain their shape and vigor.
4. MOP contains potassium, which stimulates the growth of strong stems, enabling the sugarcane plant to resist some diseases by promoting the thickness of the outer cell walls of the cane stems.
4. 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 vegetative growth of sugarcane and giving it a richer green color. Also, they give the sugarcane the nutrients it needs to make up for the damage caused by lack of light and acidity.
5. NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium) Fertilizer
NPK is a combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium; this is the most recommended fertilizer for your sugarcane for higher yields
5 Reasons Why NPK is the Best Fertilizer for Sugarcane in Kenya
1. NPK has Potassium that helps to define the characteristics of the sugarcane growth
Potassium, like nitrogen, promotes early crop growth, internode lengthening, wider cane, and increased yield.
2. NPK Fertilizer has a compound that allows storage and energy use in plants
The nitrogen in the NPK fertilizer is a significant component of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Also, it aids in the compound that allows the use and storage of energy.
3. NPK fertilizer has phosphorous that is essential in the sugarcane plant
NPK fertilizer has phosphorous, which encourages the growth of the sugarcane roots and is essential to the DNA of the sugarcane plant.
4. NPK fertilizer carry out various plant processes
NPK fertilizer has Nitrogen, which is a key part of many plant processes. It helps chlorophyll do photosynthesis in sugarcane plants and keeps the Potassium in the soil in balance.
5. NPK fertilizer contributes to the healthy and quality of the canes
Nitrogen is a key part of NPK, which is needed for high-yield sugarcane and helps crops grow and develop, which leads to strong tilling.
6. Urea Fertilizer
Urea has 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer. It is mostly recommended for top dressing and works best when it is applied at the right growth stage of the sugarcane plant.
4 Reasons Why Urea is the Best Fertilizer for Sugarcane 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 carrying out various plant processes by allowing chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis in the sugarcane.
4. Urea is the best fertilizer since its use does not harm the soil.
Sugarcane Fertilizer Recommendations
Sugarcane requires both Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K) in large doses. The fertilizer should also contain micronutrients such as Zinc, Magnesium, and Boron.
Best Liquid Fertilizer for Sugarcane
The best liquid fertilizer for sugarcane cultivation is the FK-3S, which has the primary nutrient N-P-K with the formula 5-10-40, which is higher than the average of the general fertilizer formula.
Sugarcane Fertilizer Schedule
When you use commercial fertilizers, you should start with a starter fertilizer like NPK and then add a top dressing 30-45 days after planting. During the tillering, your sugarcane needs a lot of nitrogen, which is important for the growth of the canopy. At the formative stage, you should use phosphorus fertilizer because it helps roots grow well.
Urea Fertilizer for Sugarcane
The best urea fertilizer for sugarcane depends on the system or method being used for the application. However, the most commonly used urea in Kenya is the granular, solid urea, which can be used even for aerial top-dressing.
Best Organic Fertilizer for Sugarcane
Organic fertilizer is a natural fertilizer made from animal feces and other decomposable synthetic materials and plant residues.
There are 5 types of manure that are best for sugarcane, and they include:
1. Farm Yard Manure Fertilizer
This type of manure fertilizer is made when cow dung and urine are mixed, resulting in balanced nutrition that is useful to sugarcane.
2. Green Manure Fertilizer
On the third and fourth days after planting the sugarcane, green manure crops such as hemp or daincha are sown on the sides of the ridges of the grown sugarcane.
3. Press Mud Manure Fertilizer
Mud press is a by-product of the sugar industry made from crushed sugarcane residue.
4. Reinforced Composite from Sugarcane Trash and Press Mud
This fertilizer is made from sugarcane trash, a mixture of urea, rock phosphate, gypsum, and cow dung slurry or water.
5. Neem cake
Neem cake is the residue left after the oil has been extracted from the neem seed kernel.
Dos and Don’ts While Applying Fertilizer on Sugarcane
Even though sugarcane uses a lot of fertilizer, it is important to remember that there are several things you need to think about or avoid when applying fertilizer. Here are six of them:
1. It is critical to manage these soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen, because if not properly managed, they can pollute the environment, particularly in water bodies.
2. Use the right amounts of fertilizers; for instance, based on soil analysis, ensure you use the recommended phosphorous fertilizer rates.
3. Ensure you observe the correct fertilizer placement. For example, you should place the fertilizer close to the row of sugarcane; this helps to improve nutrient uptake and reduce losses.
4. Ensure you apply your fertilizer in splits. Apply nitrogen fertilizer every 3-4 months in a single dose or every 3-6 months in two split doses, as recommended, especially in humid conditions.
5. Observe the correct timing for fertilizer application. The timing of nitrogen fertilizer application should be synchronized with the pattern of crop nitrogen uptake according to crop age.
6. Ensure you test your soil pH before applying fertilizer. This will help you determine the right fertilizer; for instance, when soil pH is above 5.5, you change DAP and urea to SSP and CAN.
Yara Fertilizer for Sugarcane
Fertilizer is a very important part of making sugarcane because it makes it grow more and better. However, Yara offers you the solution to your sugarcane problems through the use of the following four fertilizers:
1. Apply Yara Mila Power 100 kg per acre during the planting and crop establishment period.
2. Yara Vita Crop Booster, 2 L/Acre, is used three months after the emergence of the crop (tillering).
3. Yara Vera AMIDAS: 150 kg/acre – It is applied in stages three months before the sugarcane canopy emergency.
4. Yara Boost 2 L/acre—Apply 1 month after the emergence of the sugarcane.
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