Growing Basil in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Basil. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Basil a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
West Pokot County is well suited to Basil, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Basil prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Basil's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Basil, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Basil is the #51 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 4,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Basil crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Basil needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 600–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar for West Pokot
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Top dressing guide
West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Basil's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag