Growing Aloe Vera in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Yes — Lamu is well suited to Aloe Vera. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Aloe Vera a suitability score of 83/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is well suited to Aloe Vera, scoring 83/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Aloe Vera prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Aloe Vera, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Aloe Vera is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Aloe Vera crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Aloe Vera needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 6–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 10 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Lamu
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Top dressing guide
Lamu's nitrogen (0.74 g/kg) already meets Aloe Vera's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag