Growing Quinoa in Narok
Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile
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. 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.
Suitability score
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
Long Rains
Month 1
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Thinning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Grain Fill & Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Thinning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Grain Fill & Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 to 6
Instruction
Top-dress at branching. Moderate nitrogen; excess causes lodging.
Bags per Acre
0.3
Economics
Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield in Narok665 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 99,750/acre
Adjusted for Narok's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Quinoa can reach 700 kg/acre (~KES 105,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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