Growing Sweet Orange in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is well suited to Sweet Orange, scoring 77/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 6–7.5 band Sweet Orange prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.86 g/kg, P 29.6 mg/kg, K 351 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Sweet Orange, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Orange crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Sweet Orange needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 600–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Flowering & Fruit Set
Short Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split feeding; add micronutrient foliar (Zn Mn) each season for fruit quality.
Bags per Acre
0.6
Economics
Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield in Makueni11,550 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 577,500/acre
Adjusted for Makueni's 77/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Sweet Orange can reach 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureLoam
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