Growing Taro (Nduma) in Meru
Soil suitability analysis based on Meru's nutrient profile
Meru County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 4.88 the soil is strongly acidic, below Taro (Nduma)'s preferred 5.5–6.5 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 Taro (Nduma)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Taro (Nduma), which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 720,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Meru soil | Taro (Nduma) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 4.88 | 5.5–6.5 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 1.22 g/kg | min 0.8 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
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag