Growing Barley in Tana River

Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile

Tana River County is a challenging environment for Barley (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Barley prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 1.04 g/kg, P 8.5 mg/kg, K 108 mg/kg against this crop's medium/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Barley prefers loam soils, while Tana River is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 200 m, the county sits below Barley's preferred altitude range (2000–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 42/kg) and a typical 1,100 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Barley crop here can gross roughly KES 46,200 per acre.