Growing Cotton in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is well suited to Cotton, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5.8–8 band Cotton prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Cotton's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cotton prefers clay soils, while Makueni is largely sandy loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 68/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cotton crop here can gross roughly KES 61,200 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Makueni soil | Cotton needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5.8–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4–6 after emergence
Instruction
Apply at squaring stage for boll development.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
KSA 81MDryland/Medium
KALRO · 150-180 days · 10-15 bags/acre
Medium staple; adapted to western Kenya conditions.
HART 89MDryland
KALRO · 140-170 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Good lint quality; tolerant to bacterial blight.
Economics
Market priceKES 68/kg
Expected yield900 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 61,200/acre
Preferred textureClay
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