Growing Sesame (Simsim) in Tana River
Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile
Yes — Tana River is well suited to Sesame (Simsim). Tana River's soil (pH 6.4, slightly acidic) gives Sesame (Simsim) a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Tana River's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Tana River County is well suited to Sesame (Simsim), scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Sesame (Simsim) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.04 g/kg), phosphorus (8.5 mg/kg) and potassium (108 mg/kg) all meet Sesame (Simsim)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Sesame (Simsim), which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sesame (Simsim) is the #5 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River County. At current prices (about KES 350/kg) and a typical 250 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sesame (Simsim) crop here can gross roughly KES 87,500 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Tana River soil | Sesame (Simsim) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.04 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 108 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 400 mm | 300–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–1,600 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag