Growing Cassava in Kisii

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisii's nutrient profile

Kisii County is a solid choice for Cassava, with a soil-match score of 60/100. Local soils average pH 5.21 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Cassava prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.09 g/kg), phosphorus (13.1 mg/kg) and potassium (151 mg/kg) all meet Cassava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cassava prefers sandy soils, while Kisii is largely clay loam, 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 #48 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisii County. Cassava's full potential is about 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 15/kg), but at Kisii's 60/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 4,500 kg/acre (~KES 67,500/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.