When Jackson Ntaiya, a wheat and barley farmer in Narok county, was advised to stop using acidified fertilisers, he did not know that change would turn out to be a blessing.
Ntaiya said farmers have been using ammonia-based fertilisers for many years and crop yield has been declining.
Two years ago, yields increased after he started using new nitrogen-based fertilisers manufactured by Yara Kenya.
“This led to an increase of eight to 10 bags per acre," he said.
When experts conducted soil testing and analysis, they found ammonia-based fertilisers have increased soil acidity, leading to reduction in yields,” Ntaiya said.
He spoke after Yara Kenya officials visited farms in Olokurto in Narok North.
Due to intensive trainings by agronomists, Ntaiya said most most farmers have adopted modern technology through soil testing, balanced nutrition and eco-friendly tilling techniques.
Their fortunes have turned around.
"Before we used to have around 28 grains per wheat/barley head but now we have at least 38, meaning a major improvement in production,” Ntaiya said.
Soil acidity and the wrong fertiliser formulations are among the factors in low barley/wheat yields.
According to research, soil acidity renders 30 to 40 per cent of the world's arable land unproductive, especially for cereal crops including barley and wheat.
In acidic soils, toxicities of aluminum and manganese set in as phosphorus, magnesium and potassium become deficient to crops.
Meshack Rotich, commercial manager of Yara Kenya, said the introduction of YaraMila Power fertiliser was a game changer in wheat/barley farming.
“The farmers have been using DAP fertilisers that have acidified their soils. Our agronomists after testing found acidity was high, prompting us to come up with a new product, which is rich in nitrates, phosphorus and potassium," Rotih said.
He said farmers have now restored their hope in farming after they recorded an increase of production to about 30 per cent that had been affected by acidity in the last two years.
Rotich called on farmers to use planting fertiliser, foliar fertilisers and top dressers for maximum production.
Godfrey Ligigu, an agronomist from Yara Kenya, said that for 50 soil samples collected from wheat/barley fields for analysis, the results showed only one had balanced soil components.
“Extended use of acidifying fertilisers have adversely affected the soils here. This shows that the soils lack zinc and sulphur. This leads to reduced nutrients and in turn the crops lack balanced nutrition,” he said.
Narok region is Kenya’s leading wheat producer and in East Africa; a crop failure there is always a threat to food security.
(Edited by V. Graham)
