Growing Dolichos in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Dolichos. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Dolichos a suitability score of 94/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Dolichos, scoring 94/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Dolichos prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Dolichos's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Dolichos 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, Dolichos is the #4 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dolichos crop here can gross roughly KES 72,000 per acre.

94Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilDolichos needsStatus
pH6.135–7.5OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm400–1,000 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m1,000–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Narok

Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here

April
Sowing & DAP Basal Fertilizer (NO CAN — nitrogen fixer)
May
Weeding & Vine Support if needed
June
Pod Fill & Harvesting

Short Rains· October–December

October
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (no CAN)
November
Weeding & Pest Scouting
December
Harvesting & Seed Drying

Dry Season· February–April

February
Post-Harvest seed storage
March
Land Resting (N benefit remains in soil)
April
Seed Selection & preparation

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Dolichos (njahi) fixes its own nitrogen through rhizobia. Do NOT apply CAN — it suppresses nodulation and reduces yield. A starter dose of phosphorus at planting is enough.
Bags per acre in Narok
0

Narok's nitrogen reads 1.63 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Dolichos is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Narok

6 dolichos varieties are rated for Narok's altitude (1,700 m) and rainfall (800 mm):

Njahi Black· Medium/HighlandDL 1002· Dryland/MediumEldoret Brown· MediumELDO-KT Black 1· Medium/Highland 10-2000mELDO-KT Cream· Medium/Highland 10-2000mELDO-KT Black 2· Medium/Highland 10-2000m
Full variety details — maturity, yield & breeder →

Economics

Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield 600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 72,000/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