Growing Sweet Potato in Uasin Gishu
Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile
Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Sweet Potato. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Potato a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Sweet Potato, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–7 band Sweet Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Sweet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Sweet Potato prefers sandy loam soils, while Uasin Gishu is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Potato is the #38 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 90,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Uasin Gishu soil | Sweet Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.39 | 4.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.56 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 227 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,100 mm | 600–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 2,100 m | 0–2,200 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Uasin Gishu's nitrogen reads 1.56 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Sweet Potato is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Uasin Gishu
Varieties suited to Uasin Gishu's 2,100 m altitude and 1,100 mm annual rainfall — 4 of 5 sweet potato varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag