Growing Sorghum in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Sorghum. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Sorghum a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Sorghum, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Sorghum prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Sorghum's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Sorghum, which favours clay. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sorghum is the #62 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 68/kg) and a typical 1,200 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sorghum crop here can gross roughly KES 81,600 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilSorghum needsStatus
pH6.1358OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm250–700 mmHigh
Altitude1,700 m0–1,800 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Bird Control & Scouting

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Bird Control

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting & Drying
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and at flowering
Instruction
Apply at vegetative stage then repeat at early flowering for grain development.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

GadamDryland
KALRO · 100-110 days · 12-15 bags/acre
Ideal for commercial brewing; highly drought resilient.
SeredoMedium/Dryland
KALRO · 110-120 days · 15-18 bags/acre
Brown grain; excellent bird resistance.

Economics

Market priceKES 68/kg
Expected yield 1,200 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 81,600/acre

Preferred textureClay

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