Growing Arrow Root in Siaya
Soil suitability analysis based on Siaya's nutrient profile
Yes — Siaya is well suited to Arrow Root. Siaya's soil (pH 5.33, strongly acidic) gives Arrow Root a suitability score of 82/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Siaya County is well suited to Arrow Root, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.33 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Arrow Root prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.2 g/kg, P 12.1 mg/kg, K 134 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Arrow Root, which favours clay loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Arrow Root is the #13 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Siaya County. At current prices (about KES 55/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Arrow Root crop here can gross roughly KES 275,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Siaya soil | Arrow Root needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.33 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.2 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 134 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 1,000–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Siaya's nitrogen (1.2 g/kg) already meets Arrow Root's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Siaya
1 arrow root variety is rated for Siaya's altitude (1,200 m) and rainfall (1,200 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag