Growing Rosemary in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Lamu County is a challenging environment for Rosemary (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Rosemary 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. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Rosemary, which favours sandy loam. At 10 m, the county sits below Rosemary's preferred altitude range (800–2400 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Rosemary's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 375,000/acre at KES 150/kg), but at Lamu's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.