Growing Napier Grass in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Napier Grass. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Napier Grass a suitability score of 94/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Napier Grass, scoring 94/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Napier Grass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Napier Grass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Napier Grass, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 5/kg) and a typical 30,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Napier Grass crop here can gross roughly KES 150,000 per acre.

94Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilNapier Grass needsStatus
pH6.3958OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm800–2,000 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m0–2,500 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
After each cut
Instruction
Apply after every harvest cut to support rapid regrowth. Critical for maintaining high biomass yield.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Clone 13Medium/Highland
ICIPE/KALRO · 90-120 days · 10–15 tons/acre
Push-pull trap crop; high biomass; excellent fodder quality.
Kakamega 1Medium
KALRO · perennial days · 9–12.5 tons/acre
High dry matter yield; tolerant to head smut disease.

Economics

Market priceKES 5/kg
Expected yield 30,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 150,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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