Growing Lentils in Nakuru
Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile
Yes — Nakuru is well suited to Lentils. Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives Lentils a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Nakuru's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nakuru County is well suited to Lentils, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lentils prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Lentils's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Lentils prefers sandy loam soils, while Nakuru is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lentils is the #59 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nakuru County. At current prices (about KES 180/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lentils crop here can gross roughly KES 108,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nakuru soil | Lentils needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.28 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.59 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 239 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 350–800 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,750 m | 1,200–2,400 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag