Growing Sweet Potato in Nandi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile
Yes — Nandi is well suited to Sweet Potato. Nandi's soil (pH 6.17, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Nandi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nandi County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.17 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Sweet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Nandi is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nandi County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nandi soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.17 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.37 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 26.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 207 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 600–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,900 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nandi
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· August–October
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Nandi's nitrogen reads 1.37 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Nandi
5 sweet potato varieties are rated for Nandi's altitude (1,900 m) and rainfall (1,400 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag