Growing Grapes in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Grapes. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Grapes a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Grapes, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Grapes prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Grapes's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Grapes, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Grapes is the #51 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Grapes crop here can gross roughly KES 1,200,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilGrapes needsStatus
pH6.1367.5OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm500–1,000 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–1,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Narok

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Pruning & Bud Break & Basal
May
Training & Top Dressing
June
Fruit Set & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Pruning & Bud Break
November
Training & Top Dressing
December
Fruit Set & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
At bud break and fruit set
Instruction
Add potassium at veraison for sugar and colour. Avoid late nitrogen.
Bags per acre in Narok
0.5

Narok's nitrogen (1.63 g/kg) already meets Grapes's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 1,200,000/acre

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