Growing Foxtail Millet in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Yes — Lamu is well suited to Foxtail Millet. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Foxtail Millet a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is well suited to Foxtail Millet, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Foxtail Millet prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Foxtail Millet, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Foxtail Millet is the #11 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Foxtail Millet crop here can gross roughly KES 35,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Foxtail Millet needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 300–800 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 Foxtail Millet's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag