Growing Sweet Potato in Kitui

Soil suitability analysis based on Kitui's nutrient profile

Sweet Potato can be grown in Kitui County, but the soil scores 49/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above Sweet Potato's preferred 4.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (30.5 mg/kg) and potassium (339 mg/kg) all meet Sweet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sweet Potato, which favours sandy loam. Sweet Potato's full potential is about 5,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 18/kg), but at Kitui's 49/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,063 kg/acre (~KES 55,134/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.