The best wheat fertilizer is that which meets the nutritional requirements of wheat. For optimal yields, wheat requires a combination of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphate, chloride, copper, and other micronutrients such as boron. If the nutritional requirements of wheat are met, you can be sure that your wheat yields will increase.
Though wheat fertilizer is crucial in increasing yields, it is important to note that other factors such as pests and diseases will also affect the yields. Other factors include the seed variety planted and ecological factors.
Best Wheat Varieties to Plant
Some of the popular seed varieties approved by Karlo are:
Njoro BW 2- This seed variety is suitable for planting in acidic soil and areas with an altitude of 2100 – 2400. Njoro BW2 has excellent baking qualities and matures within 140 days.
Eagle 10- Eagle 10 is resistant to stem rust disease and has excellent industrial baking qualities. This seed variety is ready for harvesting after 100 days and has an optimal yield of 6.5 tonnes per hectare.
Kenya Korongo- Kenya Korongo has a very high flour conversion ratio and a yield potential of 8.5 tonnes per hectare. The seed matures within 120 days and should be planted in areas with an altitude of 2100 – 2400.
Kenya Tai- Kenya Tai is an excellent source for livestock feed {straw} because of its heavy biomass. This seed variety is moderately resistant to stem rust and matures within 100 days. For optimal yields, Kenya Tai should be planted in areas with an altitude of 1800 -2100M.
Kenya Kingbird- This seed variety is resistant to both yellow and stem rust disease. It produces 6.0 tonnes per hectare and has good industrial and home baking properties. It is important to note that this is an early maturing variety because it is ready for harvesting after 90 days. Kenya Kingbird should be planted in areas with an altitude of 1800 -2400M.
Other wheat varieties that Karlo has approved include DUMA, NGAMIA, Ks Mwamba, and Kenya Mbweha. If you are unsure of the variety to use, do not hesitate to reach out to us, and we will advise you accordingly.
Best Wheat Fertilizer to Increase Yields
If you fulfill the nutrition requirements of wheat and control pests and diseases, you can rest assured that you will have a bumper harvest. This guide will help you identify nutrient deficiencies in wheat to replenish these nutrients to increase your yields.
Zinc Deficiencies
To identify zinc deficiencies, you have to look at the leaf blade. If the leaf blade has irregular light brown lesions enclosed in a dark brown border margin, you need to add a zinc-based fertilizer. Zinc deficiencies can be caused by several factors such as high PH soils, planting in cold, wet conditions, and planting in soils rich in phosphorus.
If you spot the irregular light brown lesions and do not add zinc fertilizer, your farm will suffer from reduced yields and have low-quality grains.
Nitrogen Deficiency
The main sign of nitrogen deficiency is reduced tiller numbers. In layman’s terms, the size of the tiller is small or unusual. Nitrogen deficiency can be caused by several factors such as drought, heavy irrigation, and planting in soils with low organic matter.
Phosphorus Deficiency
The main symptom of phosphorus deficiency in wheat is the presence of purple tints on the leaves. At the same time, the plants suffer from stunted growth, and if this condition is not rectified, your farm yields can reduce by more than 50%.
Several factors can cause phosphorus deficiency. One main factor is root and stem damage. Phosphorus deficiency can also be caused by planting in areas rich in iron. Other factors that can cause phosphorus deficiency include planting in acidic soils or planting in soils with low phosphate levels. Phosphorus is essential because it helps improve yields,
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium is essential because it helps the wheat to have healthy foliage. The nutrient also helps improve yield and quantity. Wheat plants suffer from calcium deficiency if you spot curled or twisted leaves. Calcium deficiency can be caused by several factors, such as planting in sandy or acid soils and planting in soils rich in sodium.
Calcium deficiency can also be caused by adding too much potassium or nitrogen to the soil. Contact us for a soil test to know whether your farm is calcium deficient.
Boron Deficiency
Boro as a nutrient is important because it promotes good seed set and improves pollen fertilization. Because boron helps to increase the fertilization rate of wheat, the easiest symptom to identify is looking at the ears and stems. Boron deficient wheat steams are usually abnormally thick, and the ears have very few grains.
Boron deficiency can be made worse if you plant wheat in times of drought and in soils with high levels of calcium and nitrogen. Other factors affecting boron deficiency are planting in sandy and alkaline soils or growing in soils with low organic matter.
Molybdenum Defeciency
Molybdenum helps the wheat plant absorb essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. It is important to note that molybdenum has minimal effect on cereals, so it is not economically viable to add it to cereal.
Do not plant wheat in soils with low organic content to avoid subjecting your crops to molybdenum deficiency. You should also ensure that the soil is not acidic.
How Much Fertilizer per Acre for Wheat?
The fertilizer you will use will depend on the advice given after a soil test. However, the average application rate for DAP fertilizer is between 200 -250 kg per hectare. If you use a liquid fertilizer such as urea, the application rate should be 300kg per acre.