Growing Potato in Murang'a
Soil suitability analysis based on Murang'a's nutrient profile
Yes — Murang'a is well suited to Potato. Murang'a's soil (pH 5.03, strongly acidic) gives Potato a suitability score of 78/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Murang'a County is well suited to Potato, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.03 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.8–6.5 band Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 1.2 g/kg, P 12.2 mg/kg, K 168 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Murang'a is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Potato is the #9 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Murang'a County. At current prices (about KES 38/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 304,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Murang'a soil | Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.03 | 4.8–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.2 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.2 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 168 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 700–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 1,500–3,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Murang'a
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Murang'a's nitrogen (1.2 g/kg) already meets Potato's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Murang'a
Varieties suited to Murang'a's 1,500 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 6 of 14 potato varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag