Growing Sorghum in Nyandarua

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyandarua's nutrient profile

Nyandarua County is a challenging environment for Sorghum (soil-match score 33/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 5.38 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–8 band Sorghum prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.28 g/kg), phosphorus (14 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Sorghum's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Sorghum, which favours clay. At 2300 m, the county sits above Sorghum's preferred altitude ceiling of 1800 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sorghum is the #87 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyandarua County. Sorghum's full potential is about 1,200 kg/acre (~KES 81,600/acre at KES 68/kg), but at Nyandarua's 33/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 495 kg/acre (~KES 33,660/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Nyandarua's soil: Tea, Pyrethrum, and Potato — each scores higher on the same soil.