Growing Lucerne in Narok
Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile
Narok County is well suited to Lucerne, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 6.13 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Lucerne's preferred 6.5–8 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Lucerne's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lucerne, which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 6,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lucerne crop here can gross roughly KES 182,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Narok soil | Lucerne needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.13 | 6.5–8 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 1.63 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.7 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 234 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag