Growing Sweet Potato in Nyamira
Soil suitability analysis based on Nyamira's nutrient profile
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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nyamira soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.58 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.84 g/kg | min 0.5 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 | 600–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nyamira
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· August–October
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Nyamira's nitrogen reads 0.84 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Nyamira
5 sweet potato varieties are rated for Nyamira's altitude (1,700 m) and rainfall (1,600 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag