Growing Chia in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Chia. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Chia a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Chia, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Chia prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Chia's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Chia prefers sandy loam soils, while Narok is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Chia is the #69 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chia crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.

82Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilChia needsStatus
pH6.1368OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm300–800 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m1,000–2,200 mOK

Planting calendar for Narok

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Land Prep & Sowing
May
Thinning & Top Dressing
June
Flowering & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Land Prep & Sowing
November
Thinning & Top Dressing
December
Flowering & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4
Instruction
Light feeder — a small top-dress at branching. Excess nitrogen causes lodging.
Bags per acre in Narok
0.250.2

Narok's nitrogen (1.63 g/kg) already meets Chia's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield 400 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 60,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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