Growing Tea in Nandi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile
Nandi County is well suited to Tea, scoring 80/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 6.17 the soil sits above Tea's preferred 4.5–6 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Tea's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Tea, which favours clay. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 2,200 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tea crop here can gross roughly KES 55,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nandi soil | Tea needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.17 | 4.5–6 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 1.37 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 26.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 207 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 1,100–2,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,900 m | 1,500–3,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Plucking & NPK Fertilizer Application
Month 2
Plucking & Weed Control
Month 3
Pest Monitoring & Top Dressing
Short Rains
Month 1
Plucking & Top Dressing
Month 2
Plucking & Pest Control
Month 3
Fertilizer Application
Dry Season
Month 1
Pruning & Canopy Management
Month 2
Land Conservation & Mulching
Month 3
Recovery Plucking
Top dressing guide
Product
NPK 26:5:5
Timing
Continuous (every 3 months)
Instruction
Apply evenly around root zone. Avoid lime — tea prefers acidic soil.
Bags per Acre
1
Recommended seed varieties
TRFK 31/8Highland Tea Zone
Tea Research Institute · 1000-1200 days · 2500–3500 kg/acre
Drought tolerant; standard yield control clone.
TRFK 306 (Purple Tea)Highland Tea Zone
Tea Research Institute · 1000-1200 days · 2000–3000 kg/acre
Rich in anthocyanin; premium specialty tea.
Economics
Market priceKES 25/kg
Expected yield 2,200 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 55,000/acre
Preferred textureClay
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