Growing Sisal in Turkana

Soil suitability analysis based on Turkana's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Turkana is moderately suited to Sisal. Turkana's soil (pH 7.95, alkaline) gives Sisal a suitability score of 71/100. Match fertilizer to Turkana's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Turkana County is a solid choice for Sisal, with a soil-match score of 71/100. Local soils average pH 7.95 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Sisal prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.41 g/kg, P 38.5 mg/kg, K 417 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Sisal, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sisal is the single best-matched crop of the 106 we assess for Turkana County. Sisal's full potential is about 1,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 90/kg), but at Turkana's 71/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 888 kg/acre (~KES 79,920/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

71Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorTurkana soilSisal needsStatus
pH7.955.58.5OK
Nitrogen0.41 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgLow
Phosphorus38.5 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium417 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall300 mm250–700 mmOK
Altitude400 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Sisal is extremely low-input. No fertilizer top dressing needed.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

Hybrid 11648Dryland/Coastal
KALRO · 730-1000 days · 400–600 kg/acre
High fibre yield; resistant to zebra disease.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield in Turkana888 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 79,920/acre
Adjusted for Turkana's 71/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Sisal can reach 1,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

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