Growing Sweet Potato in Taita Taveta

Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile

Sweet Potato can be grown in Taita Taveta County, but the soil scores 52/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato 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 Sweet Potato, which favours sandy loam. Sweet Potato's full potential is about 5,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 18/kg), but at Taita Taveta's 52/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,250 kg/acre (~KES 58,500/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.