Growing Rice (Lowland/Paddy) in Meru
Soil suitability analysis based on Meru's nutrient profile
Yes — Meru is well suited to Rice (Lowland/Paddy). Meru's soil (pH 4.88, strongly acidic) gives Rice (Lowland/Paddy) a suitability score of 81/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Meru County is well suited to Rice (Lowland/Paddy), scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. 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 2,600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rice (Lowland/Paddy) crop here can gross roughly KES 260,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | 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 |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 1,100–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag