Growing Lucerne in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Lucerne. Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Lucerne a suitability score of 81/100. Match fertilizer to Taita Taveta's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Lucerne, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 6.5–8 band Lucerne 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/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly loam soils suit Lucerne, which favours clay loam. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lucerne crop here can gross roughly KES 224,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Lucerne needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 6.5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 400–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 700 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag