Growing Sunflower in Tana River
Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile
Yes — Tana River is well suited to Sunflower. Tana River's soil (pH 6.4, slightly acidic) gives Sunflower a suitability score of 83/100. Match fertilizer to Tana River's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Tana River County is well suited to Sunflower, scoring 83/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Sunflower 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/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Sunflower, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sunflower is the #11 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River 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 | Tana River soil | Sunflower needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.04 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 108 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 400 mm | 400–800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Tana River
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Tana River's nitrogen (1.04 g/kg) already meets Sunflower's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Tana River
Varieties suited to Tana River's 200 m altitude and 400 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 sunflower varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag