Growing Sunflower in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is well suited to Sunflower, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 6–7.5 band Sunflower prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Sunflower's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sunflower, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 48/kg) and a typical 750 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sunflower crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Makueni soil | Sunflower needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 6–7.5 | 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 |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weed Control
Month 3
Head Development & Bird Protection
Short Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Harvesting & Drying
Dry Season
Month 1
Harvesting & Threshing
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection & Storage
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4–5 after emergence
Instruction
Apply at vegetative stage before flower bud initiation.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Kenya FedhaMedium/Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-110 days · 8-12 bags/acre
High oil content (40-45%); resistant to downy mildew.
H8998Medium
Pannar Seeds · 85-100 days · 10-14 bags/acre
Hybrid; very high oil yield; uniform heads.
Economics
Market priceKES 48/kg
Expected yield750 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 36,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag