Growing Lentils in Uasin Gishu
Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile
Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Lentils. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Lentils a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Lentils, scoring 76/100 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 Lentils prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Lentils's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Lentils prefers sandy loam soils, while Uasin Gishu is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lentils is the #63 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. At current prices (about KES 180/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lentils crop here can gross roughly KES 108,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Uasin Gishu soil | Lentils needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.39 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.56 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 227 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,100 mm | 350–800 mm | High |
| Altitude | 2,100 m | 1,200–2,400 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag