Growing Radish in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Radish. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Radish a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is well suited to Radish, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Radish prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Radish's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Radish, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Radish is the #17 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Radish crop here can gross roughly KES 320,000 per acre.

92Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKajiado soilRadish needsStatus
pH6.5567.5OK
Nitrogen0.97 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus20.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium257 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall500 mm500–1,000 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m500–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Kajiado

Long Rains· MarchMay

March
Direct Sowing & Basal
April
Thinning & Top Dressing
May
Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecemberMain season here

October
Direct Sowing & Basal
November
Thinning
December
Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2
Instruction
Fast crop — one light top-dress is enough. Excess nitrogen grows leaf not root.
Bags per acre in Kajiado
0.250.2

Kajiado's nitrogen (0.97 g/kg) already meets Radish's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 320,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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