Growing Millet in Samburu
Soil suitability analysis based on Samburu's nutrient profile
Millet can be grown in Samburu County, but the soil scores 58/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 8.28 the soil sits above Millet's preferred 5–8 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.67 g/kg), phosphorus (42.1 mg/kg) and potassium (387 mg/kg) all meet Millet's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Millet, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 58/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Millet crop here can gross roughly KES 34,800 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Samburu soil | Millet needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.28 | 5–8 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 42.1 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 387 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Katumani MilletDryland
KALRO · 75-90 days · 6-8 bags/acre
Early maturing; highly drought tolerant; good grain quality.
EMBU CompositeMedium
KALRO · 85-100 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Higher yielding; suited to medium altitude rainfall areas.
Economics
Market priceKES 58/kg
Expected yield600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 34,800/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag