Growing Napier Grass in Bomet
Soil suitability analysis based on Bomet's nutrient profile
Yes — Bomet is well suited to Napier Grass. Bomet's soil (pH 6.02, slightly acidic) gives Napier Grass a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Bomet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Bomet County is well suited to Napier Grass, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.02 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Napier Grass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.38 g/kg), phosphorus (23.6 mg/kg) and potassium (237 mg/kg) all meet Napier Grass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Napier Grass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Napier Grass is the #15 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Bomet County. At current prices (about KES 5/kg) and a typical 30,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Napier Grass crop here can gross roughly KES 150,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Bomet soil | Napier Grass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.02 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.38 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 237 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,500 mm | 800–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,900 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Bomet's nitrogen (1.38 g/kg) already meets Napier Grass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Bomet
Varieties suited to Bomet's 1,900 m altitude and 1,500 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 napier grass varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag