Growing Tea in Nyeri
Soil suitability analysis based on Nyeri's nutrient profile
Yes — Nyeri is well suited to Tea. Nyeri's soil (pH 5.23, strongly acidic) gives Tea a suitability score of 91/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Nyeri County is well suited to Tea, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.23 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–6 band Tea prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 1.09 g/kg, P 15.5 mg/kg, K 192 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Tea, which favours clay. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tea is the #4 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyeri County. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 2,200 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tea crop here can gross roughly KES 55,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nyeri soil | Tea needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.23 | 4.5–6 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.09 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 15.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 192 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 1,100–2,500 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 Tea needs, so the standard 1 bag/acre is raised to 1.25. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Seed varieties for Nyeri
Varieties suited to Nyeri's 1,700 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 tea varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag