Growing Courgette (Zucchini) in Trans Nzoia

Soil suitability analysis based on Trans Nzoia's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Trans Nzoia is well suited to Courgette (Zucchini). Trans Nzoia's soil (pH 5.93, slightly acidic) gives Courgette (Zucchini) a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Trans Nzoia's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Trans Nzoia County is well suited to Courgette (Zucchini), scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.93 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Courgette (Zucchini) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.68 g/kg), phosphorus (27.3 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Courgette (Zucchini)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Courgette (Zucchini), which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Courgette (Zucchini) is the #26 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Trans Nzoia County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Courgette (Zucchini) crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorTrans Nzoia soilCourgette (Zucchini) needsStatus
pH5.935.87OK
Nitrogen1.68 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus27.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Trans Nzoia

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Direct Sowing & Basal
April
Top Dressing & Pest Control
May
Fruiting & Harvest

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Direct Sowing & Basal
September
Top Dressing
October
Fruiting & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and at flowering
Instruction
Add potassium at fruiting for continuous fruit set and quality.
Bags per acre in Trans Nzoia
0.50.4

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

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 12,000 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