Growing Sweet Corn in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Kilifi County is well suited to Sweet Corn, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Sweet Corn prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sweet Corn, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Corn crop here can gross roughly KES 320,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kilifi soil | Sweet Corn needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5.8–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.8 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 109 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 500–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 150 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Top dressing guide
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag