Growing Maize in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Maize. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Maize a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is well suited to Maize, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Maize prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.97 g/kg, P 20.6 mg/kg, K 257 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Maize, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Maize is the #37 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. At current prices (about KES 45/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Maize crop here can gross roughly KES 81,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKajiado soilMaize needsStatus
pH6.555.5–7OK
Nitrogen0.97 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus20.6 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium257 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall500 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Kajiado

Long Rains· March–May

March
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP/NPK)
April
Top Dressing (CAN/Urea) & 1st Weeding
May
Crop Protection & Scouting

Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here

October
Fast Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
November
Top Dressing & Weeding
December
Fast Growth Scouting

Dry Season· January–March

January
Land Preparation & Manure
February
Soil Testing & Resting
March
Seed Selection & Storage

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4–6 after germination
Instruction
When plant is knee-high broadcast between rows
Bags per acre in Kajiado
1.251

Kajiado's nitrogen (0.97 g/kg) is 81% of the 1.2 g/kg Maize needs, so the standard 1 bag/acre is raised to 1.25. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.

Seed varieties for Kajiado

Varieties suited to Kajiado's 1,300 m altitude and 500 mm annual rainfall — 16 of 24 maize varieties we list.

H513Medium Altitude
Kenya Seed Company · 120-150 days · 25-30 bags/acre
Fast maturing; good performance in transitional climates.
Katumani Composite BDryland
KALRO · 90-120 days · 15-18 bags/acre
Highly drought-tolerant; ensures harvest in low rainfall.
DH04Dryland
KALRO · 90-110 days · 18-22 bags/acre
Extremely fast maturing; escapes late-season heat stress.
H623Medium/Highland
Kenya Seed Company · 120-150 days · 31-40 bags/acre
Resistant to blight rust and grey leaf spot; good husk cover; medium altitude 1400-1700m.
DH01Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 27-40 bags/acre
Drought tolerant; MSV tolerant; semi-arid adapted 0-1500m; good for low-input farmers.
DH02Dryland/Medium
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 27-40 bags/acre
MSV and GLS tolerant; drought tolerant; widely adapted to low-medium altitude 0-1500m.
DH03Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-120 days · 13-22 bags/acre
Drought tolerant; tolerant to leaf diseases; suitable for dryland short second season.
WH403Medium
Western Seed Company · 120-150 days · 28-35 bags/acre
Prolific; excellent GLS and rust tolerance; good for silage; medium altitude 1200-1600m.
WH507Medium/Highland
Western Seed Company · 130-160 days · 27-40 bags/acre
Tolerant to leaf diseases; good standability; widely adapted medium to high altitude 1000-1700m.
Ukamez-2Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 90-110 days · 21-41 bags/acre
KEPHIS certified; drought tolerant; GLS and MSV resistant; dry mid altitude Eastern Kenya 800-1600m.
Ukamez-1Dryland
KALRO · 85-100 days · 18-22 bags/acre
KEPHIS certified; early maturing; drought tolerant; suited to ASALs in Eastern Kenya.
Embu-537Medium/Highland
KALRO · 120-140 days · 28-32 bags/acre
Medium altitude composite; consistent yield under Central Kenya conditions.
KH500-48ADryland/Medium
KALRO · 90-110 days · 20-25 bags/acre
KALRO open-pollinated hybrid; heat tolerant; widely adapted in eastern regions.
FAWTH2001Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 130-150 days · 32-38 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; developed in response to Maize Lethal Necrosis; KEPHIS listed.
FAWTH2002Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 125-145 days · 30-36 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; CIMMYT East Africa release; grey leaf spot resistant.
FAWTH2003Medium/Highland
CIMMYT/KALRO · 120-140 days · 28-34 bags/acre
MLN-tolerant; combined resistance package; suited to highland Kenya.

Economics

Market priceKES 45/kg
Expected yield 1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 81,000/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