Growing Oats in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Oats. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Oats a suitability score of 84/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Oats, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Oats prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Oats's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Oats, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Oats is the #65 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 1,600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Oats crop here can gross roughly KES 64,000 per acre.

84Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilOats needsStatus
pH6.135.57OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm500–1,000 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m1,800–3,000 mLow

Planting calendar for Narok

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
May
Tillering & Top Dressing
June
Heading & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
November
Tillering & Top Dressing
December
Heading & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 to 5 at tillering
Instruction
Top-dress at tillering for grain and biomass. Split if grown for grain and fodder.
Bags per acre in Narok
0.5

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

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield 1,600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 64,000/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