Effects of Blended Fertilizers on Yields of Mature Clonal Tea grown in Kenyan Highlands

Abstract

Fertilizer requirement for tea production is high since the pluckable portions are succulent shoots, which contain the largest percentage of nutrients. Kenya’s tea industry depends predominantly on imported compound NPK fertilizer to replenish nutrients removed through plucking. These fertilizers cannot be easily manipulated for specific soils and tea clones. This has necessitated studies on other fertilizers which can be produced locally in an economical manner so as to boost farmers’ profit. The objective of this research was to evaluate two Mavuno fertilizer blends with the aim of identifying optimal levels of application which would maximize tea productivity. This was achieved through determination of seasonal and annual effects on tea yields at different rates of application.