Growing Cauliflower in Elgeyo Marakwet

Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Elgeyo Marakwet is well suited to Cauliflower. Elgeyo Marakwet's soil (pH 6.27, slightly acidic) gives Cauliflower a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Cauliflower, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Cauliflower prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Cauliflower's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Cauliflower, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cauliflower is the #54 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Elgeyo Marakwet County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cauliflower crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

88Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorElgeyo Marakwet soilCauliflower needsStatus
pH6.2767.5OK
Nitrogen1.39 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus22.2 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm700–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,800 m1,200–2,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Elgeyo Marakwet

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal DAP
May
Top Dressing CAN & Boron Spray
June
Head Formation & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
November
Top Dressing & Pest Control
December
Curd Development & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and 6 after transplanting
Instruction
Apply boron foliar at 4 weeks to prevent hollow stem. Avoid excess nitrogen after curd set.
Bags per acre in Elgeyo Marakwet
0.5

Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen (1.39 g/kg) already meets Cauliflower's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/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