Growing Sweet Orange in Murang'a

Soil suitability analysis based on Murang'a's nutrient profile

Sweet Orange can be grown in Murang'a County, but the soil scores 55/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 5.03 the soil is moderately acidic, below Sweet Orange's preferred 6–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. 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. Sweet Orange prefers loam soils, while Murang'a is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Orange is the #69 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Murang'a County. Sweet Orange's full potential is about 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre at KES 50/kg), but at Murang'a's 55/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 8,250 kg/acre (~KES 412,500/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Murang'a's soil: Tea, Macadamia, and Pineapple — each scores higher on the same soil.