Growing Sweet Potato in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Yes — Kilifi is well suited to Sweet Potato. Kilifi's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Kilifi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kilifi County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sweet Potato, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #21 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi 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 | Kilifi soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.8 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 109 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 600–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 150 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kilifi
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Kilifi's nitrogen reads 0.8 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Kilifi
Varieties suited to Kilifi's 150 m altitude and 700 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 5 sweet potato varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag