Growing Cassava in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Cassava. Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Cassava a suitability score of 78/100. Match fertilizer to Taita Taveta's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Cassava, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Cassava prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.97 g/kg, P 12.9 mg/kg, K 104 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Cassava prefers sandy soils, while Taita Taveta is largely loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cassava is the #36 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Taita Taveta County. At current prices (about KES 15/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cassava crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Cassava needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 500–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 700 m | 0–1,400 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Taita Taveta
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Taita Taveta's nitrogen reads 0.97 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Cassava is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Taita Taveta
Varieties suited to Taita Taveta's 700 m altitude and 500 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 cassava varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag