Growing Lemongrass in Migori

Soil suitability analysis based on Migori's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Migori is well suited to Lemongrass. Migori's soil (pH 5.43, strongly acidic) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 76/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Migori County is well suited to Lemongrass, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.43 the soil is moderately acidic, below Lemongrass's preferred 5.5–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.2 g/kg), phosphorus (12.2 mg/kg) and potassium (169 mg/kg) all meet Lemongrass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemongrass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #25 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Migori County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemongrass crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMigori soilLemongrass needsStatus
pH5.435.57.5Adjust
Nitrogen1.2 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus12.2 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium169 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm700–1,800 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m0–2,000 mOK

Planting calendar for Migori

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Slip Planting & Basal
April
Weeding & Top Dressing
May
First Cutting

Short Rains· SeptemberNovember

September
Slip Planting & Basal
October
Weeding & Top Dressing
November
First Cutting

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 2 months
Instruction
Ratoon crop — top-dress each cutting cycle for continuous biomass.
Bags per acre in Migori
0.50.4

Migori's nitrogen (1.2 g/kg) already meets Lemongrass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Migori7,600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 456,000/acre
Adjusted for Migori's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Lemongrass can reach 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 480,000/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(5,700)
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