Wheat is a cereal crop, majorly grown for commercial purposes. Main Growing Areas in Kenya are: Nakuru, Narok,Trans Mara, Laikipia, Uasin Gishu, Nyandarua, Meru Central, Trans Nzoia and Keiyo.
Wheat Varieties
Pasa, Kenya chirika, Mbuni, Kenya kwale, Kenya popo, Kenya fahari, Kenya kongono, Kenya Nyambu, Kenya Nyangumi, Kenya paka, Kenya kulungu, Kenya nungu, Kenya Tembo, Kenya Mbweha, Duma, Ngamia, Mbega, Ks farasi, Ks Mwamba.
Ecological requirements
Rainfall:700-1000mm annually
Altitude:1800-3000 above sea level
Temperature:
Soils:
Land preparation
For virgin land plough 4-6 months before planting. Stubble land plough 1-2 months after harvesting.
Planting done at onset of rains. Seed rate range from 75-125kg per hectare depending on variety
Fertilizer application
Land category | Fertilizer type | Rate in kg/ha |
Virgin land | 11:52:0 | 130 |
2nd year crop | DAP | 130 |
3rd year crop | DAP | 109 |
4th year crop | DAP | 87 |
Over 4 years | DAP | 200 |
Planting
Sow with seed drill, for small scale farmers seeds and fertilizers can be broadcasted and covered with a light harrow in the last harrowing time.
Weed management
Use herbicides eg 2-4 D amine, Buctril, Granstar and Glean at 4-6 leaf stages
Pest management
Chafer grubs: Spray with suitable insecticide
Cut worms: Seed dressing with imidacloprid, use suitable insecticide eg decis
African army worm:Use suitable insecticide
African boll worm: Use suitable insecticide
Semi loopers: Use appropriate insecticide
Cereal aphids: Use suitable insecticide
Russian wheat aphid: Control at first sign of infestation with suitable insecticide eg dimecron
Birds: eg Red billed quelea quelea, chestnut weaver birds. Use bird scaring devices, liaise with the nearest agricultural department for assistance on the birds control strategies.
Rats: Practice field sanitation, trap the rats, bait with rodenticides, effectively clear bushes around the cropped field and biological control using dogs and cats.
Disease management
Stem rust: Plant resistant varieties, timely sowing, use fungicide eg swing
Yellow rust: Plan resistant varieties, use fungicides eg swing
Brown leaf rust: Plant resistant varieties, use fungicides eg alto-combi
Leaf and glume blotch: Use clean seeds, crop rotation, field sanitation, use fungicides eg alto-combi
Yellow blotch: Seed dressing, crop rotation and field sanitation
Spot blotch: Crop rotation, field hygiene, seed dressing with suitable chemicals eg improdione
Loose smut: Plant certified seeds, seed dressing
Scab head blust: Crop rotation, seed treatment
Take-all disease: Crop rotation with non-cereal crops
Harvesting
After 4-7 months from planting depending on altitude
Post-harvest handling
Grains should be dried to 13.5% moisture content, this prevent rotting of grains and
2 comments
can you give details for wheat and rhodes boma grass farming;from land preparation to sales?
Good information!