Growing Pixie Oranges in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Pixie Oranges. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Pixie Oranges 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 Pixie Oranges, 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 Pixie Oranges prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Pixie Oranges's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pixie Oranges prefers sandy loam soils, while Uasin Gishu is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pixie Oranges crop here can gross roughly KES 224,000 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilPixie Oranges needsStatus
pH6.395.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m1,000–2,000 mHigh

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Biannual start of rains
Instruction
Apply in a ring around the drip line. Foliar zinc and manganese every season for fruit quality.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

PixieMedium/Highland
KALRO/HCDA · 1000-1500 days · 7.2–10.8 tons/acre
Seedless; thin skin; excellent sweetness; high export demand.
Washington NavelMedium
KALRO · 1000-1500 days · 6.3–9 tons/acre
Large navel orange; seedless; good fresh market variety.

Economics

Market priceKES 28/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 224,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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