Growing Chia in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes — Makueni is well suited to Chia. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Chia a suitability score of 86/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is well suited to Chia, scoring 86/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 6–8 band Chia prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Chia's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chia, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Chia is the #5 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chia crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Chia needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 6–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 300–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 1,000–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Makueni
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Top dressing guide
Makueni's nitrogen (0.86 g/kg) already meets Chia's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag