Growing Cotton in Baringo
Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile
Yes — Baringo is well suited to Cotton. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Cotton a suitability score of 86/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Baringo County is well suited to Cotton, scoring 86/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–8 band Cotton prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Cotton's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Cotton, which favours clay. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cotton is the #55 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 68/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cotton crop here can gross roughly KES 61,200 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Baringo soil | Cotton needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.22 | 5.8–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.32 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 212 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 450–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 900 m | 0–1,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag