Growing Dragon Fruit in Nyamira
Soil suitability analysis based on Nyamira's nutrient profile
Nyamira County is well suited to Dragon Fruit, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.58 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Dragon Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.84 g/kg, P 11.6 mg/kg, K 148 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Dragon Fruit prefers sandy loam soils, while Nyamira is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 500/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dragon Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 2,500,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nyamira soil | Dragon Fruit needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.58 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.84 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 11.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 148 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,600 mm | 500–1,500 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,700 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag