Growing Taro (Nduma) in Nakuru

Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nakuru is well suited to Taro (Nduma). Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives Taro (Nduma) a suitability score of 75/100. Match fertilizer to Nakuru's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nakuru County is well suited to Taro (Nduma), scoring 75/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Taro (Nduma) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Taro (Nduma)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Taro (Nduma), which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Taro (Nduma) is the #78 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nakuru County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 7,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Taro (Nduma) crop here can gross roughly KES 630,000 per acre.

75Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNakuru soilTaro (Nduma) needsStatus
pH6.285.56.5OK
Nitrogen1.59 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.2 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium239 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall900 mm1,000–1,500 mmLow
Altitude1,750 m0–1,850 mOK

Recommended seed varieties

Nduma LocalMedium/Highland 0-1850m
KALRO · 270-365 days · 2.5–4 tons/acre
Traditional variety; good corm size; suited to wet/valley bottoms.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield in Nakuru6,563 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 590,670/acre
Adjusted for Nakuru's 75/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Taro (Nduma) can reach 7,000 kg/acre (~KES 630,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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