Growing Cotton in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes — Makueni is well suited to Cotton. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Cotton a suitability score of 84/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
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. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cotton is the #9 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. 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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | 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 |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 450–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–1,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag