Growing Onion in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Onion. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Onion a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
West Pokot County is well suited to Onion, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Onion prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Onion's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Onion, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Onion is the #41 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Onion crop here can gross roughly KES 420,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Onion needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for West Pokot
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Onion's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for West Pokot
2 onion varieties are rated for West Pokot's altitude (1,500 m) and rainfall (1,000 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag