Growing Onion in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Onion. Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Onion 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 Onion, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 6–7 band Onion prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.97 g/kg, P 12.9 mg/kg, K 104 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly loam soils suit Onion, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Onion is the #30 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Taita Taveta County. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Onion crop here can gross roughly KES 420,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Onion needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 700 m | 0–2,000 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 (0.97 g/kg) is 81% of the 1.2 g/kg Onion needs, so the standard 0.5 bags/acre is raised to 0.75. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Recommended seed varieties
All 2 listed onion varieties shown — none are specifically rated for Taita Taveta's conditions. Confirm with your agrovet.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag