Growing Cassava in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Machakos is moderately suited to Cassava. Machakos's soil (pH 7.03, near-neutral) gives Cassava a suitability score of 71/100. Match fertilizer to Machakos's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Machakos County is a solid choice for Cassava, with a soil-match score of 71/100. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above Cassava's preferred 4.5–7 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 Cassava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cassava, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cassava is the #67 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Machakos County. Cassava's full potential is about 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 15/kg), but at Machakos's 71/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 5,325 kg/acre (~KES 79,875/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Machakos soil | Cassava needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 4.5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.82 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 31.4 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 338 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 500–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 0–1,400 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Machakos
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Machakos's nitrogen reads 0.82 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Cassava is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Machakos
Varieties suited to Machakos's 1,100 m altitude and 700 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 cassava varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag