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 56/100 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. At current prices (about KES 5/kg) and a typical 27,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sugarcane crop here can gross roughly KES 135,000 per acre.