Growing Lemongrass in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Baringo is well suited to Lemongrass. Baringo's soil (pH 6.22, slightly acidic) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Baringo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Baringo County is well suited to Lemongrass, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Lemongrass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemongrass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #22 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Baringo County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemongrass crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.

92Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBaringo soilLemongrass needsStatus
pH6.225.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm700–1,800 mmOK
Altitude900 m0–2,000 mOK

Planting calendar for Baringo

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Slip Planting & Basal
May
Weeding & Top Dressing
June
First Cutting

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Slip Planting & Basal
November
Weeding & Top Dressing
December
First Cutting

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 2 months
Instruction
Ratoon crop — top-dress each cutting cycle for continuous biomass.
Bags per acre in Baringo
0.50.4

Baringo's nitrogen (1.32 g/kg) already meets Lemongrass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 480,000/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