Growing Tangerine in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — West Pokot is well suited to Tangerine. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Tangerine a suitability score of 84/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

West Pokot County is well suited to Tangerine, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Tangerine prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Tangerine's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Tangerine, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tangerine is the #62 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tangerine crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

84Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorWest Pokot soilTangerine needsStatus
pH6.0467.5OK
Nitrogen1.67 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus24.8 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium211 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,500 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for West Pokot

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Transplanting & Basal
May
Pruning & Top Dressing
June
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Transplanting & Basal
November
Pruning & Top Dressing
December
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split feeding around the drip line; foliar zinc for leaf and fruit quality.
Bags per acre in West Pokot
0.50.6

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

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/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