Growing Sweet Potato in Kericho
Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile
Yes — Kericho is well suited to Sweet Potato. Kericho's soil (pH 5.94, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 93/100. Match fertilizer to Kericho's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kericho County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.94 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Sweet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Kericho is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #2 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kericho County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kericho soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.94 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.34 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.7 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 225 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 600–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 2,000 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kericho
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Kericho's nitrogen reads 1.34 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Kericho
4 sweet potato varieties are rated for Kericho's altitude (2,000 m) and rainfall (1,800 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag