Growing Cotton in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Cotton can be grown in Uasin Gishu County, but the soil scores 46/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–8 band Cotton prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Cotton's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Cotton, which favours clay. At 2100 m, the county sits above Cotton's preferred altitude ceiling of 1500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. Cotton's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 61,200/acre at KES 68/kg), but at Uasin Gishu's 46/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 518 kg/acre (~KES 35,224/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.