Growing Sweet Potato in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Sweet Potato can be grown in Kajiado County, but the soil scores 58/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Sweet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sweet Potato, which favours sandy loam. Sweet Potato's full potential is about 5,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 18/kg), but at Kajiado's 58/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,625 kg/acre (~KES 65,250/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.