Growing Carrot in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
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 5,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Carrot crop here can gross roughly KES 209,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Machakos soil | Carrot needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 5.5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.82 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 31.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 338 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
NantesMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 70-80 days · 80-100 bags/acre
Cylindrical roots; sweet flavor; excellent fresh market variety.
ChantenayMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 75-90 days · 70-90 bags/acre
Broad shoulders; good for heavy soils; reliable yield.
Economics
Market priceKES 38/kg
Expected yield5,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 209,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag