Growing Potato in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Potato. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Potato a suitability score of 90/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
West Pokot County is well suited to Potato, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.8–6.5 band Potato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Potato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Potato, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Potato is the #28 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 38/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Potato crop here can gross roughly KES 304,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Potato needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 4.8–6.5 | 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 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 700–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 1,500–3,000 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 Potato's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for West Pokot
Varieties suited to West Pokot's 1,500 m altitude and 1,000 mm annual rainfall — 6 of 14 potato varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag