Growing Sisal in Isiolo

Soil suitability analysis based on Isiolo's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Isiolo is well suited to Sisal. Isiolo's soil (pH 7.83, alkaline) gives Sisal a suitability score of 78/100. Match fertilizer to Isiolo's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Isiolo County is well suited to Sisal, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.83 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Sisal prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.46 g/kg, P 37.4 mg/kg, K 395 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Sisal, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sisal is the single best-matched crop of the 106 we assess for Isiolo County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 1,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sisal crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.

78Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorIsiolo soilSisal needsStatus
pH7.835.58.5OK
Nitrogen0.46 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgLow
Phosphorus37.4 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium395 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall350 mm250–700 mmOK
Altitude900 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Sisal is extremely low-input. No fertilizer top dressing needed.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

Hybrid 11648Dryland/Coastal
KALRO · 730-1000 days · 400–600 kg/acre
High fibre yield; resistant to zebra disease.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield in Isiolo975 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 87,750/acre
Adjusted for Isiolo's 78/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Sisal can reach 1,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

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