Growing Arrow Root in Embu
Soil suitability analysis based on Embu's nutrient profile
Yes — Embu is well suited to Arrow Root. Embu's soil (pH 5.1, strongly acidic) gives Arrow Root a suitability score of 79/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Embu County is well suited to Arrow Root, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.1 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Arrow Root prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.04 g/kg, P 12.6 mg/kg, K 194 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Arrow Root, which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 55/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Arrow Root crop here can gross roughly KES 275,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Embu soil | Arrow Root needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.1 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.04 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 194 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,300 mm | 1,000–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,400 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag