Growing Sunflower in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Sunflower. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Sunflower a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Sunflower, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Sunflower prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Sunflower's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sunflower prefers sandy soils, while Narok is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sunflower is the #43 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 48/kg) and a typical 750 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sunflower crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilSunflower needsStatus
pH6.1367.5OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm400–800 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–2,000 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weed Control
Month 3
Head Development & Bird Protection

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & 1st Weeding
Month 3
Harvesting & Drying

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting & Threshing
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection & Storage

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4–5 after emergence
Instruction
Apply at vegetative stage before flower bud initiation.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Kenya FedhaMedium/Dryland
Kenya Seed Company · 90-110 days · 8-12 bags/acre
High oil content (40-45%); resistant to downy mildew.
H8998Medium
Pannar Seeds · 85-100 days · 10-14 bags/acre
Hybrid; very high oil yield; uniform heads.

Economics

Market priceKES 48/kg
Expected yield 750 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 36,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy

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