Growing Potato in Nyeri
Soil suitability analysis based on Nyeri's nutrient profile
Yes — Nyeri is well suited to Potato. Nyeri's soil (pH 5.23, strongly acidic) gives Potato a suitability score of 84/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Nyeri County is well suited to Potato, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.23 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.8–6.5 band Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 1.09 g/kg, P 15.5 mg/kg, K 192 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Nyeri is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Potato is the #7 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyeri County. At current prices (about KES 38/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 304,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nyeri soil | Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.23 | 4.8–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.09 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 192 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 700–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 1,500–3,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nyeri
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Nyeri's nitrogen (1.09 g/kg) is 91% of the 1.2 g/kg Potato needs, so the standard 1 bag/acre is raised to 1.25. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Seed varieties for Nyeri
14 potato varieties are rated for Nyeri's altitude (1,700 m) and rainfall (1,200 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag