Growing Wambugu Apples in Elgeyo Marakwet
Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile
Yes — Elgeyo Marakwet is well suited to Wambugu Apples. Elgeyo Marakwet's soil (pH 6.27, slightly acidic) gives Wambugu Apples a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Wambugu Apples, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Wambugu Apples prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Wambugu Apples's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Wambugu Apples, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Wambugu Apples is the #25 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Elgeyo Marakwet County. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 4,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Wambugu Apples crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Elgeyo Marakwet soil | Wambugu Apples needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.27 | 5–7 | 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 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 1,000–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,800 m | 1,500–2,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen (1.39 g/kg) already meets Wambugu Apples's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Elgeyo Marakwet
Varieties suited to Elgeyo Marakwet's 1,800 m altitude and 1,000 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 1 wambugu apples varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag