Growing Kale (Sukuma Wiki) in Kirinyaga
Soil suitability analysis based on Kirinyaga's nutrient profile
Kirinyaga County is well suited to Kale (Sukuma Wiki), scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.31 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Kale (Sukuma Wiki) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.36 g/kg), phosphorus (12.5 mg/kg) and potassium (177 mg/kg) all meet Kale (Sukuma Wiki)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Kale (Sukuma Wiki), which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 20/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Kale (Sukuma Wiki) crop here can gross roughly KES 100,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Kirinyaga soil | Kale (Sukuma Wiki) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.31 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.36 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 177 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag