Growing Rosemary in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Rosemary. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Rosemary a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

West Pokot County is well suited to Rosemary, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Rosemary prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Rosemary's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Rosemary, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Rosemary is the #75 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 2,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rosemary crop here can gross roughly KES 375,000 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorWest Pokot soilRosemary needsStatus
pH6.0468OK
Nitrogen1.67 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus24.8 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium211 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm400–900 mmHigh
Altitude1,500 m800–2,400 mOK

Planting calendar for West Pokot

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Cutting Establishment
May
Weeding & Light Feeding
June
Harvest & Pruning

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Cutting Establishment
November
Weeding
December
Harvest & Pruning

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per season
Instruction
Light feeder — over-feeding reduces oil content and hardiness.
Bags per acre in West Pokot
0.250.2

West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Rosemary's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield in West Pokot2,375 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 356,250/acre
Adjusted for West Pokot's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Rosemary can reach 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 375,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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