Is Kiambu good for growing Cassava?

Kiambu County scores 61/100 for Cassava suitability (good). Soil pH is 5.28 against a preferred 4.5–7, nitrogen 1.01 g/kg and phosphorus 13.7 mg/kg. County rainfall is 1100 mm/year against Cassava's 500–1500 mm range. This is a workable match for Cassava.

What fertilizer is best for Cassava in Kiambu?

Base the plan on Kiambu's soil: pH 5.28, nitrogen 1.01 g/kg and phosphorus 13.7 mg/kg. Get an exact bag-per-acre basal and top-dressing schedule free at https://shambaiq.com/app.

What soil pH does Cassava need, and does Kiambu have it?

Cassava grows best at pH 4.5–7. Kiambu averages pH 5.28, which is within that range.

How much can I earn from Cassava per acre in Kiambu?

At roughly KES 15/kg and an expected 6,000 kg/acre, gross revenue is about KES 90,000 per acre before input costs. Use the ShambaIQ budget tool for a net figure based on your fertilizer plan.

Growing Cassava in Kiambu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kiambu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Kiambu is moderately suited to Cassava. Kiambu's soil (pH 5.28, strongly acidic) gives Cassava a suitability score of 61/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Kiambu County is a solid choice for Cassava, with a soil-match score of 61/100. Local soils average pH 5.28 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Cassava prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.01 g/kg), phosphorus (13.7 mg/kg) and potassium (169 mg/kg) all meet Cassava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cassava prefers sandy soils, while Kiambu is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 1700 m, the county sits above Cassava's preferred altitude ceiling of 1400 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cassava is the #63 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kiambu County. Cassava's full potential is about 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 15/kg), but at Kiambu's 61/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 4,575 kg/acre (~KES 68,625/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Suitability score

Soil & climate match

Factor	Kiambu soil	Cassava needs	Status
pH	5.28	4.5–7	OK
Nitrogen	1.01 g/kg	min 0.5 g/kg	OK
Phosphorus	13.7 mg/kg	min 6 mg/kg	OK
Potassium	169 mg/kg	min 150 mg/kg	OK
Rainfall	1,100 mm	500–1,500 mm	OK
Altitude	1,700 m	0–1,400 m	High

Planting calendar for Kiambu

Long Rains· March–MayMain season here

March

Stem Cutting Planting

April

Weeding & Pest Monitoring

May

Growth Monitoring

Short Rains· October–December

October

Weeding & Mound Formation

November

Pest & Disease Scouting

December

Growth Monitoring

Dry Season· January–March

January

Harvesting (12+ months from planting)

February

Processing & Storage

March

Land Preparation for next crop

Top dressing guide

Product

None

Timing

None required

Instruction

Cassava is low-input. Excessive N causes leafy growth at expense of tubers.

Bags per acre in Kiambu

Kiambu's nitrogen reads 1.01 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Cassava is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Kiambu

Varieties suited to Kiambu's 1,700 m altitude and 1,100 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 cassava varieties we list.

ShibeCoastal/Medium

KALRO · 270-330 days · 3–5 tons/acre

Sweet variety; low cyanide content; good for table use.

Economics

Market priceKES 15/kg

Expected yield in Kiambu4,575 kg/acre

Estimated revenueKES 68,625/acre

Adjusted for Kiambu's 61/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Cassava can reach 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

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

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