Growing Dhania in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Machakos County is well suited to Dhania, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Dhania prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet Dhania's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Dhania, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dhania crop here can gross roughly KES 67,500 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Machakos soil | Dhania needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| 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 100 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2 after thinning
Instruction
One light application to boost rapid foliage growth.
Bags per Acre
0.3
Recommended seed varieties
Desi CorianderMedium/Highland
Local/KALRO · 45-60 days · 10-15 bags/acre
Fast maturing; aromatic; popular in fresh and dried form.
Economics
Market priceKES 75/kg
Expected yield900 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 67,500/acre
Preferred textureLoam
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