Growing Sugarcane in Kericho

Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile

Kericho County is a solid choice for Sugarcane, with a soil-match score of 61/100. Local soils average pH 5.94 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Sugarcane prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Sugarcane's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sugarcane prefers loam soils, while Kericho is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 2000 m, the county sits above Sugarcane's preferred altitude ceiling of 1500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. At current prices (about KES 5/kg) and a typical 27,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sugarcane crop here can gross roughly KES 135,000 per acre.