Growing Yams in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Narok County is a challenging environment for Yams (soil-match score 41/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Yams prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Yams's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Yams prefers sandy loam soils, while Narok is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. Narok receives approximately 800 mm/year — well below Yams's minimum of 1200 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Yams is the #99 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. Yams's full potential is about 7,000 kg/acre (~KES 560,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Narok's 41/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,587 kg/acre (~KES 286,960/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Narok's soil: Finger Millet, Groundnuts, and Soybeans — each scores higher on the same soil.