Growing Sweet Potato in Nyamira

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyamira's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nyamira is well suited to Sweet Potato. Nyamira's soil (pH 5.58, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to Nyamira's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nyamira County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.58 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato 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 low/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Nyamira is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the single best-matched crop of the 106 we assess for Nyamira County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.

90Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNyamira soilSweet Potato needsStatus
pH5.584.57OK
Nitrogen0.84 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus11.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium148 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,600 mm600–1,800 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–2,200 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Vine Cutting Planting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Weeding & Vine Management
Month 3
Harvesting & Storage

Short Rains

Month 1
Vine Planting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Vine Trailing & Weeding
Month 3
Harvesting

Dry Season

Month 1
Irrigation & Vine Planting
Month 2
Weeding
Month 3
Harvesting & Vine Multiplication

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Sweet potatoes rarely need top dressing. Excess N promotes vines over tubers.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

KabodeMedium/Dryland
CIP/KALRO · 120-150 days · 3–4 tons/acre
Orange-fleshed; high Vitamin A; drought tolerant.
Kenspot 5Medium/Highland
KALRO · 90-120 days · 4–5 tons/acre
Purple-skinned; excellent taste; good market demand.
VitamuMedium/Highland
KALRO · 120-150 days · 3.5–4.5 tons/acre
Orange-fleshed; dual purpose grain and fodder; KEPHIS certified; 1200-1800m; released 2015.
Kenspot-1Highland
KARI Njoro · 120-150 days · 3.5–4.5 tons/acre
Orange-fleshed; high beta-carotene; suited to 1700-2300m; released 2013.
Kenspot-3Highland
KARI Njoro · 120-150 days · 4–5 tons/acre
White-fleshed; high dry matter; good storability; 1900-2300m cold highland adapted; released 2013.

Economics

Market priceKES 18/kg
Expected yield 5,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 90,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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