Growing Pyrethrum in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Machakos is poorly suited to Pyrethrum. Machakos's soil (pH 7.03, near-neutral) gives Pyrethrum a suitability score of 16/100. Match fertilizer to Machakos's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Machakos County is a challenging environment for Pyrethrum (soil-match score 16/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above Pyrethrum's preferred 5–6.5 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 Pyrethrum's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Pyrethrum, which favours loam. At 1100 m, the county sits below Pyrethrum's preferred altitude range (1800–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pyrethrum is the #103 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Machakos County. Pyrethrum's full potential is about 500 kg/acre (~KES 140,000/acre at KES 280/kg), but at Machakos's 16/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 100 kg/acre (~KES 28,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Machakos's soil: Mango, Sisal, and Moringa — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Machakos soil | Pyrethrum needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 5–6.5 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.82 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 31.4 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 338 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 900–1,500 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 1,800–3,000 m | Low |
Top dressing guide
Machakos's nitrogen (0.82 g/kg) already meets Pyrethrum's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Recommended seed varieties
No variety in our list is specifically rated for Machakos's 1,100 m altitude and 700 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag