Growing Arrow Root in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Yes — Busia is well suited to Arrow Root. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Arrow Root a suitability score of 83/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Busia County is well suited to Arrow Root, scoring 83/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.29 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Arrow Root prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.91 g/kg, P 16.6 mg/kg, K 175 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Arrow Root, which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 55/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Arrow Root crop here can gross roughly KES 275,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Busia soil | Arrow Root needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.91 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 175 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 1,000–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag