Growing Sunflower in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Yes — Taita Taveta is well suited to Sunflower. Taita Taveta's soil (pH 6.64, near-neutral) gives Sunflower a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Taita Taveta's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Sunflower, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Sunflower 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. Sunflower prefers sandy soils, while Taita Taveta is largely loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sunflower is the #11 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Taita Taveta County. At current prices (about KES 48/kg) and a typical 750 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sunflower crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Taita Taveta soil | Sunflower needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 6–7.5 | 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 | 400–800 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) already meets Sunflower's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Taita Taveta
Varieties suited to Taita Taveta's 700 m altitude and 500 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 sunflower varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag