Growing Okra in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Uasin Gishu County is a challenging environment for Okra (soil-match score 35/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Okra prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Okra's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Okra, which favours loam. At 2100 m, the county sits above Okra's preferred altitude ceiling of 1300 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Okra is the #98 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. Okra's full potential is about 5,000 kg/acre (~KES 300,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Uasin Gishu's 35/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 2,188 kg/acre (~KES 131,280/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Uasin Gishu's soil: Beans, Snow Peas, and Napier Grass — each scores higher on the same soil.