Growing Rice (Lowland/Paddy) in Meru
Soil suitability analysis based on Meru's nutrient profile
Meru County is a solid choice for Rice (Lowland/Paddy), with a soil-match score of 68/100. Local soils average pH 4.88 — strongly acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Rice (Lowland/Paddy) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.22 g/kg), phosphorus (20.3 mg/kg) and potassium (218 mg/kg) all meet Rice (Lowland/Paddy)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Rice (Lowland/Paddy), which favours clay. At current prices (about KES 100/kg) and a typical 2,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rice (Lowland/Paddy) crop here can gross roughly KES 200,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Meru soil | Rice (Lowland/Paddy) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 4.88 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.22 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 20.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 218 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
KombokaMedium/Lowland
KALRO · 100-115 days · 20-28 bags/acre
High yielding paddy; resistant to blast; developed for Mwea and lowland Kenya.
Basmati 370Medium/Lowland
KALRO · 130-150 days · 18-24 bags/acre
Aromatic long-grain; premium export market; suited to Mwea Irrigation Scheme.
Economics
Market priceKES 100/kg
Expected yield2,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 200,000/acre
Preferred textureClay
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