Growing Leek in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Baringo is well suited to Leek. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Leek a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Baringo County is well suited to Leek, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Leek prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Leek's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Leek, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Leek is the #49 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Leek crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

88Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBaringo soilLeek needsStatus
pH6.2267.5OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude900 m800–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Baringo

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
May
Earthing Up & Top Dressing
June
Blanching & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
November
Earthing Up & Top Dressing
December
Blanching & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and week 8
Instruction
Earth up and top-dress to blanch the stems. Steady nitrogen for length.
Bags per acre in Baringo
0.50.4

Baringo's nitrogen (1.32 g/kg) already meets Leek's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag