Growing Lemongrass in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Lamu is moderately suited to Lemongrass. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 63/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is a solid choice for Lemongrass, with a soil-match score of 63/100. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Lemongrass prefers loam soils, while Lamu is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #50 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. Lemongrass's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 480,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Lamu's 63/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 6,300 kg/acre (~KES 378,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Lemongrass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 700–1,800 mm | Low |
| 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) is 93% of the 0.8 g/kg Lemongrass needs, so the standard 0.4 bags/acre is raised to 0.5. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag