Growing Quinoa in Narok
Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile
Yes — Narok is well suited to Quinoa. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Quinoa a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Narok County is well suited to Quinoa, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8.5 band Quinoa prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Quinoa's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Quinoa, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Quinoa is the #76 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Quinoa crop here can gross roughly KES 105,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Narok soil | Quinoa needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.13 | 6–8.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.63 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.7 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 234 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 800 mm | 300–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 1,500–3,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Narok
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Top dressing guide
Narok's nitrogen (1.63 g/kg) already meets Quinoa's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag