Growing Yams in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — West Pokot is moderately suited to Yams. West Pokot's soil (pH 6.04, slightly acidic) gives Yams a suitability score of 65/100. Match fertilizer to West Pokot's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
West Pokot County is a solid choice for Yams, with a soil-match score of 65/100. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.5 band Yams prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Yams's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Yams, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Yams is the #89 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for West Pokot County. Yams's full potential is about 7,000 kg/acre (~KES 560,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at West Pokot's 65/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 5,688 kg/acre (~KES 455,040/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Yams needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5.5–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 1,200–1,800 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag