Growing Lemongrass in Elgeyo Marakwet
Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile
Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Lemongrass, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 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. 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.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Elgeyo Marakwet soil | Lemongrass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.27 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.39 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 213 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 700–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,800 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Slip Planting & Basal
Month 2
Weeding & Top Dressing
Month 3
First Cutting
Short Rains
Month 1
Slip Planting & Basal
Month 2
Weeding & Top Dressing
Month 3
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
0.4
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(4,500)
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