Growing Butternut Squash in Kakamega

Soil suitability analysis based on Kakamega's nutrient profile

Butternut Squash can be grown in Kakamega County, but the soil scores 56/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 5.63 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Butternut Squash prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.01 g/kg, P 14 mg/kg, K 147 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Butternut Squash prefers sandy loam soils, while Kakamega is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Butternut Squash is the #52 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kakamega County. Butternut Squash's full potential is about 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 400,000/acre at KES 40/kg), but at Kakamega's 56/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 7,000 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kakamega's soil: Soybeans, Rice (Lowland/Paddy), and Sweet Potato — each scores higher on the same soil.