Growing Cassava in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Yes — Busia is well suited to Cassava. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Cassava a suitability score of 90/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Busia County is well suited to Cassava, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.29 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Cassava prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 mg/kg) all meet Cassava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cassava prefers sandy soils, while Busia is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cassava is the #4 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Busia County. At current prices (about KES 15/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cassava crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Busia soil | Cassava needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.91 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 175 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 500–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,400 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag