Growing Lemon in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Baringo is well suited to Lemon. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Lemon a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Baringo County is well suited to Lemon, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Lemon prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Lemon's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemon, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemon is the #51 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemon crop here can gross roughly KES 500,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBaringo soilLemon needsStatus
pH6.2267.5OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm600–1,500 mmOK
Altitude900 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Baringo

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Transplanting & Basal
May
Pruning & Top Dressing
June
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Transplanting & Basal
November
Pruning & Top Dressing
December
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split citrus feeding across the year. Foliar zinc and manganese keep leaves healthy.
Bags per acre in Baringo
0.50.6

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

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 500,000/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