Growing Soybeans in Kericho

Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kericho is well suited to Soybeans. Kericho's soil (pH 5.94, slightly acidic) gives Soybeans a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Kericho's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kericho County is well suited to Soybeans, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.94 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Soybeans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Soybeans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Soybeans prefers loam soils, while Kericho is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Soybeans is the #27 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kericho County. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Soybeans crop here can gross roughly KES 52,500 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKericho soilSoybeans needsStatus
pH5.9457OK
Nitrogen1.34 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.7 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium225 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,800 mm600–2,000 mmOK
Altitude2,000 m0–1,800 mHigh

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Soybeans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it suppresses nodulation and reduces yield.
Bags per acre in Kericho
0

Kericho's nitrogen reads 1.34 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Soybeans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Kericho

Varieties suited to Kericho's 2,000 m altitude and 1,800 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 soybeans varieties we list.

SB 19Medium/Highland
KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
High protein content; disease resistant; good for oil and flour.

Economics

Market priceKES 75/kg
Expected yield in Kericho665 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 49,875/acre
Adjusted for Kericho's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Soybeans can reach 700 kg/acre (~KES 52,500/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureLoam

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