Growing Pawpaw in Kericho

Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile

Kericho County is a challenging environment for Pawpaw (soil-match score 27/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 5.94 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Pawpaw's preferred 6–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Pawpaw's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pawpaw prefers sandy loam soils, while Kericho is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 2000 m, the county sits above Pawpaw's preferred altitude ceiling of 1200 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pawpaw is the #100 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kericho County. Pawpaw's full potential is about 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 336,000/acre at KES 28/kg), but at Kericho's 27/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 4,050 kg/acre (~KES 113,400/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kericho's soil: Kale (Sukuma Wiki), Sweet Potato, and Wambugu Apples — each scores higher on the same soil.