Growing Parsley in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Parsley, 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 Parsley prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Parsley's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Parsley, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 100/kg) and a typical 4,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Parsley crop here can gross roughly KES 400,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Parsley 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 | 800–2,400 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Thinning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Continuous Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Thinning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Continuous Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and week 6
Instruction
Two light applications sustain continuous leaf harvest.
Bags per Acre
0.3
Economics
Market priceKES 100/kg
Expected yield 4,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 400,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag