Growing Onion in Kajiado
Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile
Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Onion. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Onion a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kajiado County is well suited to Onion, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 6–7 band Onion 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 Onion, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Onion is the #28 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Onion crop here can gross roughly KES 420,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kajiado soil | Onion needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.55 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 20.6 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 257 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,300 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kajiado
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Kajiado's nitrogen (0.97 g/kg) is 81% of the 1.2 g/kg Onion needs, so the standard 0.5 bags/acre is raised to 0.75. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Seed varieties for Kajiado
2 onion varieties are rated for Kajiado's altitude (1,300 m) and rainfall (500 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag