Growing Oats in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Oats. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Oats a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Oats, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Oats prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Oats's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Oats, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Oats is the #37 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 1,600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Oats crop here can gross roughly KES 64,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilOats needsStatus
pH6.395.57OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm500–1,000 mmHigh
Altitude2,100 m1,800–3,000 mOK

Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
May
Tillering & Top Dressing
June
Heading & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Land Prep & Sowing & Basal
November
Tillering & Top Dressing
December
Heading & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 to 5 at tillering
Instruction
Top-dress at tillering for grain and biomass. Split if grown for grain and fodder.
Bags per acre in Uasin Gishu
0.5

Uasin Gishu's nitrogen (1.56 g/kg) already meets Oats's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield 1,600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 64,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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