In Kenya, to enhance the production of beans, the soil should have enough nutrients for growth and development. There are various fertilizers used by farmers in Kenya that increase the productivity of beans. In this article, it shows the various fertilizers that are best for growth and increased yield of beans in Kenya.
The best foliar fertilizer in Kenya is Central Valley Bean Cooperative, which contains a zinc solution that helps to resolve micronutrient deficiency. The best fertilizer for beans varies according to the nutrients in the soil, but it is usually a low-nitrogen formulation. Therefore, fertilizer rich in phosphorus is the best fertilizer, like diammonium phosphate.
Foliar fertilizer is good for beans in Kenya because it contains both micro and macronutrients that are necessary for optimal bean production.
Foliar fertilizer should be applied when plants’ root activity is limited or soil nutrients are in short supply for at least three days.
Schedule of Applying Fertilizers to Beans
When planting beans, application of fertilizer is scheduled either during planting and when the plant leaves appear or during flowering. Application is done early in the morning or late in the evening.
Before planting, 80kg of DAP is applied along the rows per acre of land. After the plant has grown, top dressing is done using CAN fertilizer at 60 kg per acre twice in a season. The first application is when the plant has two to three leaves, and the second is at the beginning of flowering.
The most common organic fertilizer used in Kenya by many farmers is diammonium phosphate, which is used during planting and CAN for top dressing. Also, foliar fertilizer is used by large-scale farmers like The All-Purpose Plant by Miracle-Gro.
The Best Fertilizers for Beans
The best fertilizers for beans have an NPK, which means low nitrogen value and high phosphorus and potassium value. The following are the three best fertilizers for beans:
1. Best overall fertilizer for beans like garden tone, herb and vegetable food by Espoma.
2. Best liquid fertilizer for beans, such as All-purpose plant food for Miracle-Gro.
3. Best for budget fertilizer for vegetable that is grown by down to earth.
Four Yara Fertilizer Brands
Yara fertilizer is the type of fertilizer brand recognized in agriculture. It has high-quality granular nitro phosphate products that supply a variety of nutrients that boost the proper development of various parts of beans.
Yara has the following four Yara fertilizer brands:
1. Yarabela nitrogen fertilizer is a source of nitrogen and calcium to fuel growth and productivity.
2. Yaraliva fertilizer helps to ensure high-value and marketable bean produce.
3. Yaramila is a complex fertilizer that contains the most essential plant nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that maximizes yields and the quality of beans.
4. Yaratera is a fully water-soluble fertilizer for fertigation.
The Central Valley Bean Cooperative is the best foliar feed for beans since it is a solution of zinc that helps to solve the deficiency of nutrients, especially when the plant is stunted or the young plant turns yellow.
Booster Foliar Fertilizer
The booster foliar fertilizer is a soluble fertilizer containing high amounts of macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, cobalt, boron, and zinc. It is a suspension concentrate formulated with the use of quality nutrient sources that are safe for use. It is a double yield boost packed into five litres.
In Kenya, the price of booster foliar fertilizer is Ksh. 2,500 for a five-litre container.
The best time to foliar feed the beans is early in the morning or late in the evening when the air is cool. This will give your plants enough time to soak up the nutrients from foliar fertilizer without having moisture evaporation from sunlight.
Four Ways to Increase Bean Yield
For a farmer to increase the yield of beans, the following are four ways to increase:
1. Prepare the Land Well for Good Growth
To ensure a good bean yield, a farmer should prepare the land before the planting season. The land is fed up with compost manure mixed with the soil.
2. Select Best Place to Plant Beans
The place where a farmer wants to plant beans should receive full sun, be fertile soil, well-drained soil, and have good air circulation.
3. Weed and Pest Control
Weeds should be controlled by cultivating the planted beans or spraying the weeds to prevent competition for nutrients. Also, spray the beans with appropriate pesticides to control the pests.
4. Apply Appropriate Fertilizer
When a farmer applies proper fertilizer to the beans planted during planting or top dressing, it will add nutrients to the soil, thus increasing the yields.