Growing Oilseed Rape (Canola) in Elgeyo Marakwet

Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Elgeyo Marakwet is well suited to Oilseed Rape (Canola). Elgeyo Marakwet's soil (pH 6.27, slightly acidic) gives Oilseed Rape (Canola) a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Oilseed Rape (Canola), scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7.5 band Oilseed Rape (Canola) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Oilseed Rape (Canola)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Oilseed Rape (Canola), which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Oilseed Rape (Canola) is the #63 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Elgeyo Marakwet County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 1,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Oilseed Rape (Canola) crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorElgeyo Marakwet soilOilseed Rape (Canola) needsStatus
pH6.275.87.5OK
Nitrogen1.39 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus22.2 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm400–900 mmHigh
Altitude1,800 m1,500–2,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Elgeyo Marakwet

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
May
Top Dressing & Weeding
June
Flowering & Pod Fill & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
November
Top Dressing & Weeding
December
Flowering & Pod Fill & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and at stem elongation
Instruction
Sulfur-demanding — prefer Ammonium Sulphate. Add boron at flowering for pod set.
Bags per acre in Elgeyo Marakwet
0.5

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

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 1,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 60,000/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