Agriculture experts say, to get the best out of fertiliser use, the following are important:
-Use the right seed variety, this can be known by consulting your seed supplier
-Good land preparation, this includes early ploughing before rains set in
-Appropriate weed management, this involves timely weeding
-Pest and disease control, because presence of pests affects the balance of nutrients in the soils
-Best post-harvest handling.
For appropriate nutrient use follow the 4R nutrient stewardship.
-Right source of nutrients
-Right rate
-Right time/stage of plant growth
-Right Method
-Fertiliser applications should be done at the beginning of rainy seasons.
-Not cost effective to irrigate without fertilization
-Not to fertiliae in acid, compacted, dry soils.
-Use soluble fertiliaers (N&K) in split doses.
-Intensification necessary when fertilisers are used (more plants per unit area)
-Farmers’ training needed in use of fertilisers and soil sampling for analyses
Other fertility enhancers
-Practice crop rotation by changing seasonal crops grown on each block every season. For example, if you grow maize in the first season, grow legumes like beans the second season.
-Plant shade trees to reduce impact of the sun
-Mulch the soils to prevent over evaporation of water from the soils
-Dig trenches, contours and canals to help in water capture and retention, plus stopping soil erosion.
