Growing Basil in Nakuru
Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile
Nakuru County is well suited to Basil, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Basil prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Basil's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Basil, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 4,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Basil crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nakuru soil | Basil needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.28 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.59 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 239 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 600–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,750 m | 0–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Pinching
Month 3
Continuous Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Pinching & Top Dressing
Month 3
Continuous Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and after each cutting
Instruction
Top-dress after each harvest to sustain leafy regrowth. Excess nitrogen dilutes the aroma.
Bags per Acre
0.3
Economics
Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield 4,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 480,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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