Growing Cotton in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Cotton. Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Cotton a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Taita Taveta's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Cotton, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 5.8–8 band Cotton 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 medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Cotton prefers clay soils, while Taita Taveta is largely loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cotton is the #17 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Taita Taveta County. At current prices (about KES 68/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cotton crop here can gross roughly KES 61,200 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Cotton needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 5.8–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 450–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 700 m | 0–1,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag