Growing Lucerne in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes — Makueni is well suited to Lucerne. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Lucerne a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is well suited to Lucerne, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 6.5–8 band Lucerne prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Lucerne's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Lucerne prefers clay loam soils, while Makueni is largely sandy loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lucerne is the single best-matched crop of the 106 we assess for Makueni County. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lucerne crop here can gross roughly KES 224,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Lucerne needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 6.5–8 | 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 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 400–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Makueni's nitrogen reads 0.86 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Lucerne is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Recommended seed varieties
No variety in our list is specifically rated for Makueni's 1,000 m altitude and 600 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag