Is Nyeri good for growing Cassava?

Nyeri County scores 60/100 for Cassava suitability (good). Soil pH is 5.23 against a preferred 4.5–7, nitrogen 1.09 g/kg and phosphorus 15.5 mg/kg. County rainfall is 1200 mm/year against Cassava's 500–1500 mm range. This is a workable match for Cassava.

What fertilizer is best for Cassava in Nyeri?

Base the plan on Nyeri's soil: pH 5.23, nitrogen 1.09 g/kg and phosphorus 15.5 mg/kg. Get an exact bag-per-acre basal and top-dressing schedule free at https://shambaiq.com/app.

What soil pH does Cassava need, and does Nyeri have it?

Cassava grows best at pH 4.5–7. Nyeri averages pH 5.23, which is within that range.

How much can I earn from Cassava per acre in Nyeri?

At roughly KES 15/kg and an expected 6,000 kg/acre, gross revenue is about KES 90,000 per acre before input costs. Use the ShambaIQ budget tool for a net figure based on your fertilizer plan.

Growing Cassava in Nyeri

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyeri's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Nyeri is moderately suited to Cassava. Nyeri's soil (pH 5.23, strongly acidic) gives Cassava a suitability score of 60/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Nyeri County is a solid choice for Cassava, with a soil-match score of 60/100. Local soils average pH 5.23 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–7 band Cassava prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.09 g/kg), phosphorus (15.5 mg/kg) and potassium (192 mg/kg) all meet Cassava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cassava prefers sandy soils, while Nyeri is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 1700 m, the county sits above Cassava's preferred altitude ceiling of 1400 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cassava is the #68 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyeri County. Cassava's full potential is about 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 15/kg), but at Nyeri's 60/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 4,500 kg/acre (~KES 67,500/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Suitability score

Soil & climate match

Factor	Nyeri soil	Cassava needs	Status
pH	5.23	4.5–7	OK
Nitrogen	1.09 g/kg	min 0.5 g/kg	OK
Phosphorus	15.5 mg/kg	min 6 mg/kg	OK
Potassium	192 mg/kg	min 150 mg/kg	OK
Rainfall	1,200 mm	500–1,500 mm	OK
Altitude	1,700 m	0–1,400 m	High

Planting calendar for Nyeri

Long Rains· March–MayMain season here

March

Stem Cutting Planting

April

Weeding & Pest Monitoring

May

Growth Monitoring

Short Rains· October–December

October

Weeding & Mound Formation

November

Pest & Disease Scouting

December

Growth Monitoring

Dry Season· January–March

January

Harvesting (12+ months from planting)

February

Processing & Storage

March

Land Preparation for next crop

Top dressing guide

Product

None

Timing

None required

Instruction

Cassava is low-input. Excessive N causes leafy growth at expense of tubers.

Bags per acre in Nyeri

Nyeri's nitrogen reads 1.09 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Cassava is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Nyeri

Varieties suited to Nyeri's 1,700 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 cassava varieties we list.

ShibeCoastal/Medium

KALRO · 270-330 days · 3–5 tons/acre

Sweet variety; low cyanide content; good for table use.

Economics

Market priceKES 15/kg

Expected yield in Nyeri4,500 kg/acre

Estimated revenueKES 67,500/acre

Adjusted for Nyeri's 60/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Cassava can reach 6,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

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

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