Growing Barley in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Makueni is poorly suited to Barley. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Barley a suitability score of 20/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is a challenging environment for Barley (soil-match score 20/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 6–7.5 band Barley prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Barley's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Barley, which favours loam. At 1000 m, the county sits below Barley's preferred altitude range (2000–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Barley is the #91 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. Barley's full potential is about 1,600 kg/acre (~KES 67,200/acre at KES 42/kg), but at Makueni's 20/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 400 kg/acre (~KES 16,800/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Makueni's soil: Lucerne, Mango, and Sisal — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Barley needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 2,000–3,000 m | Low |
Planting calendar for Makueni
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Makueni's nitrogen (0.86 g/kg) already meets Barley's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Recommended seed varieties
No variety in our list is specifically rated for Makueni's 1,000 m altitude and 600 mm rainfall, so all 4 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag