Growing Tea in Kericho
Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile
Yes — Kericho is well suited to Tea. Kericho's soil (pH 5.94, slightly acidic) gives Tea a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Kericho's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kericho County is well suited to Tea, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.94 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–6 band Tea prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Tea's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Tea, which favours clay. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tea is the #13 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kericho County. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 2,200 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tea crop here can gross roughly KES 55,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kericho soil | Tea needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.94 | 4.5–6 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.34 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.7 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 225 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 1,100–2,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 2,000 m | 1,500–3,000 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 (1.34 g/kg) already meets Tea's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Kericho
Varieties suited to Kericho's 2,000 m altitude and 1,800 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 tea varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag