Cotton Farming Guide — Kenya
Soil requirements, top counties, seed varieties, fertilizer plan & economics
Soil Requirements
pH Range
5.8–8
Nitrogen
medium
Phosphorus
medium
Potassium
medium
Preferred texture: Clay
Best Counties for Cotton
Challenging Counties for Cotton
These counties may need soil amendments for Cotton
Certified Seed Varieties
KSA 81MDryland/Medium
KALRO · 150-180 days · 10-15 bags/acre
Medium staple; adapted to western Kenya conditions.
HART 89MDryland
KALRO · 140-170 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Good lint quality; tolerant to bacterial blight.
Economics
Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield1,000 kg/acre
Est. revenueKES 60,000/acre
Top Dressing
Product: CAN
Timing: Week 4–6 after emergence
Bags/acre: 0.5
Apply at squaring stage for boll development.
Fertilizer Prices
DAPKES 2,500
CANKES 2,500
NPK 17:17:17KES 2,500
UreaKES 2,500
LimeKES 1,500
Subsidized price / 50kg bag