Growing Carrot in Machakos

Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Machakos is well suited to Carrot. Machakos's soil (pH 7.03, near-neutral) gives Carrot a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Machakos's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Machakos County is well suited to Carrot, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above Carrot's preferred 5.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet Carrot's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Carrot, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 38/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Carrot crop here can gross roughly KES 380,000 per acre.

82Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMachakos soilCarrot needsStatus
pH7.035.57Adjust
Nitrogen0.82 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus31.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium338 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall700 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,100 m1,000–2,500 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4-5 after sowing
Instruction
Apply at thinning stage when roots begin swelling. Avoid over-application — causes forked roots.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

NantesMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 70-80 days · 4–5 tons/acre
Cylindrical roots; sweet flavor; excellent fresh market variety.
ChantenayMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 75-90 days · 3.5–4.5 tons/acre
Broad shoulders; good for heavy soils; reliable yield.

Economics

Market priceKES 38/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 380,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag