Growing Cauliflower in Trans Nzoia

Soil suitability analysis based on Trans Nzoia's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Trans Nzoia is well suited to Cauliflower. Trans Nzoia's soil (pH 5.93, slightly acidic) gives Cauliflower a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Trans Nzoia's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Trans Nzoia County is well suited to Cauliflower, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.93 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Cauliflower's preferred 6–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.68 g/kg), phosphorus (27.3 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Cauliflower's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Cauliflower, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cauliflower is the #54 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Trans Nzoia County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cauliflower crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

82Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorTrans Nzoia soilCauliflower needsStatus
pH5.9367.5Adjust
Nitrogen1.68 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus27.3 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm700–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m1,200–2,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Trans Nzoia

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal DAP
April
Top Dressing CAN & Boron Spray
May
Head Formation & Harvest

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
September
Top Dressing & Pest Control
October
Curd Development & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and 6 after transplanting
Instruction
Apply boron foliar at 4 weeks to prevent hollow stem. Avoid excess nitrogen after curd set.
Bags per acre in Trans Nzoia
0.5

Trans Nzoia's nitrogen (1.68 g/kg) already meets Cauliflower's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag