Growing Rice (Upland) in Siaya
Soil suitability analysis based on Siaya's nutrient profile
Siaya County is well suited to Rice (Upland), scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.33 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Rice (Upland) 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 high/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Rice (Upland), which favours clay. At current prices (about KES 105/kg) and a typical 1,600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rice (Upland) crop here can gross roughly KES 168,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Siaya soil | Rice (Upland) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.33 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.2 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 134 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
Top dressing guide
Product
Urea
Timing
Tillering and panicle initiation
Instruction
Split into 2 applications. Flooding helps N uptake.
Bags per Acre
1
Recommended seed varieties
NERICA 1Medium
WARDA/KALRO · 90-100 days · 15-20 bags/acre
Upland adapted; drought tolerant; good grain quality.
NERICA 10Medium/Dryland
WARDA/KALRO · 100-110 days · 12-18 bags/acre
Resistant to blast; good milling quality.
Economics
Market priceKES 105/kg
Expected yield1,600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 168,000/acre
Preferred textureClay
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