Growing Wheat in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Nairobi County is well suited to Wheat, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Wheat prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 1.1 g/kg, P 22.1 mg/kg, K 236 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Wheat, which favours clay. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 1,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Wheat crop here can gross roughly KES 50,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Nairobi soil | Wheat needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Drilling Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weed Control
Month 3
Pest Monitoring & Protection
Short Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weed Control
Month 3
Pest Monitoring
Dry Season
Month 1
Post-Harvest Processing
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Dry Planting Preparation
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Tillering stage (Week 3–4)
Instruction
Apply at tillering for maximum tiller development
Bags per Acre
1
Recommended seed varieties
KS MwambaHighland
Kenya Seed Company · 130-150 days · 30-35 bags/acre
Stem rust resistant; strong lodging resistance.
RobinHighland
KALRO · 120-140 days · 28-32 bags/acre
Consistent performance across environments.
Economics
Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield1,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 50,000/acre
Preferred textureClay
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag