Growing Sugarcane in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Sugarcane can be grown in Uasin Gishu County, but the soil scores 47/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Sugarcane prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Sugarcane's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Sugarcane, which favours loam. At 2100 m, the county sits above Sugarcane's preferred altitude ceiling of 1500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. Sugarcane's full potential is about 27,000 kg/acre (~KES 135,000/acre at KES 5/kg), but at Uasin Gishu's 47/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 15,863 kg/acre (~KES 79,315/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.