Growing Lemongrass in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Makueni is moderately suited to Lemongrass. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 55/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lemongrass can be grown in Makueni County, but the soil scores 55/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Lemongrass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Lemongrass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #63 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. Lemongrass's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 480,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Makueni's 55/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 5,500 kg/acre (~KES 330,000/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 | Lemongrass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5.5–7.5 | 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 | 700–1,800 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–2,000 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 Lemongrass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag