Growing Lemongrass in Uasin Gishu
Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile
Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Lemongrass. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Lemongrass, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Lemongrass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemongrass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #48 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemongrass crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Uasin Gishu soil | Lemongrass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.39 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.56 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 227 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,100 mm | 700–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 2,100 m | 0–2,000 m | High |
Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Top dressing guide
Uasin Gishu's nitrogen (1.56 g/kg) already meets Lemongrass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag