Growing Lucerne in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Machakos County is well suited to Lucerne, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 6.5–8 band Lucerne prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet Lucerne's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Lucerne, which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 6,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lucerne crop here can gross roughly KES 182,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Machakos soil | Lucerne needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 6.5–8 | OK |
| 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 |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Lucerne fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Apply gypsum and foliar boron after cuts.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
CUF 101Highland
Local · 60-90 days · 80-120 tons/acre
High protein fodder; perennial; suited to irrigated highland production.
SA KarooMedium/Highland
Local · 60-90 days · 70-100 tons/acre
Drought tolerant; persistent stand; good protein content.
Economics
Market priceKES 28/kg
Expected yield6,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 182,000/acre
Preferred textureClay 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