Growing African Nightshade in Meru

Soil suitability analysis based on Meru's nutrient profile

Meru County is a solid choice for African Nightshade, with a soil-match score of 65/100. At an average pH of 4.88 the soil is strongly acidic, below African Nightshade's preferred 5.5–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.22 g/kg), phosphorus (20.3 mg/kg) and potassium (218 mg/kg) all meet African Nightshade's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit African Nightshade, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, African Nightshade is the #37 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Meru County. African Nightshade's full potential is about 5,000 kg/acre (~KES 250,000/acre at KES 50/kg), but at Meru's 65/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 4,063 kg/acre (~KES 203,150/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.