Growing Sesame (Simsim) in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Makueni is moderately suited to Sesame (Simsim). Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Sesame (Simsim) a suitability score of 70/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is a solid choice for Sesame (Simsim), with a soil-match score of 70/100. At an average pH of 7.5 the soil sits above Sesame (Simsim)'s preferred 5.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Sesame (Simsim)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sesame (Simsim), which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sesame (Simsim) is the #43 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. Sesame (Simsim)'s full potential is about 250 kg/acre (~KES 87,500/acre at KES 350/kg), but at Makueni's 70/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 219 kg/acre (~KES 76,650/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Sesame (Simsim) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5.5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 300–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–1,600 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag