Growing Strawberry in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Strawberry. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Strawberry a suitability score of 93/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

West Pokot County is well suited to Strawberry, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.8 band Strawberry prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Strawberry's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Strawberry, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Strawberry is the #12 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 200/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Strawberry crop here can gross roughly KES 1,200,000 per acre.

93Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorWest Pokot soilStrawberry needsStatus
pH6.045.56.8OK
Nitrogen1.67 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus24.8 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium211 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm700–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,500 m1,500–2,800 mOK

Planting calendar for West Pokot

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Runner Transplanting & Basal
May
Mulching & Top Dressing
June
Fruiting & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Runner Transplanting & Basal
November
Mulching & Top Dressing
December
Fruiting & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 3 weeks in season
Instruction
Split-feed through the fruiting window. Add foliar calcium and potassium for fruit quality.
Bags per acre in West Pokot
0.50.4

West Pokot's nitrogen (1.67 g/kg) already meets Strawberry's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 200/kg
Expected yield 6,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 1,200,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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