Growing Sorghum in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is well suited to Sorghum, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5–8 band Sorghum prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Sorghum's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sorghum 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 1,200 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sorghum crop here can gross roughly KES 81,600 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Sorghum needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5–8 | OK |
| 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 | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Bird Control & Scouting
Short Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Bird Control
Dry Season
Month 1
Harvesting & Drying
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and at flowering
Instruction
Apply at vegetative stage then repeat at early flowering for grain development.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
GadamDryland
KALRO · 100-110 days · 12-15 bags/acre
Ideal for commercial brewing; highly drought resilient.
SeredoMedium/Dryland
KALRO · 110-120 days · 15-18 bags/acre
Brown grain; excellent bird resistance.
Economics
Market priceKES 68/kg
Expected yield in Makueni1,140 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 77,520/acre
Adjusted for Makueni's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Sorghum can reach 1,200 kg/acre (~KES 81,600/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureClay
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag