Growing Yams in Kirinyaga

Soil suitability analysis based on Kirinyaga's nutrient profile

Kirinyaga County is well suited to Yams, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.31 the soil is moderately acidic, below Yams's preferred 5.5–6.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.36 g/kg, P 12.5 mg/kg, K 177 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Yams prefers sandy loam soils, while Kirinyaga is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Yams is the #14 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kirinyaga County. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 7,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Yams crop here can gross roughly KES 560,000 per acre.