The long rains mark the beginning of one of the most important seasons of the year. For many farmers, success during the long rains is determined by the preparations made in the weeks ahead.
Farming can be unpredictable. Rains may come earlier or later than expected, and once they begin, there is often little time to correct mistakes. Fields that are not properly prepared can lose nutrients through runoff, suffer from erosion, or struggle with poor crop establishment.
Preparing soil with compost before the long rains is one of the most reliable steps a farmer can take. It strengthens soil structure, improves water absorption, and ensures nutrients are available when crops need them most.
Compost does more than just add nutrients. It rebuilds organic matter, supports soil life and improves the structure of the soil. (For a deeper look at how compost works, we’ve explored this in more detail in our previous blog post.)
Composting has benefits all year round. But the weeks before the long rains are especially important because this is when the soil needs to be ready to receive and hold water.
Compost improves soil structure by helping soil particles bind together into stable clusters. This reduces compaction, improves aeration and allows roots to thrive. When the first heavy rains arrive, well-structured soil absorbs water instead of allowing it to run off.
Healthy soils rich in organic matter act like a sponge. They absorb rainfall, hold moisture, and create stable conditions where microbes can slowly break down organic material. This leads to:
Compost also plays an important role in carbon storage. Farmland typically holds less carbon than natural ecosystems, but increasing organic matter through compost improves the soil’s ability to store carbon over time. This not only strengthens farm productivity but also contributes to environmental resilience.
Many of Kenya’s soils face a common and serious challenge: they are low in organic carbon. According to the Soil Atlas Kenya, about 75 % of Kenyan soils are deficient in organic carbon, which means they struggle to hold nutrients and water for crops.
This low organic matter affects the way soil functions. Without enough carbon, soils become compacted, drain poorly and are more vulnerable to erosion. They also lose fertility faster, so farmers rely more on chemical fertilisers to maintain yields.
But over-reliance on chemical fertilisers without adding organic materials can make matters worse. While fertilisers supply nutrients, they don’t rebuild the living part of the soil. Over time, this can lead to soil degradation, increased costs for farmers, and even environmental harm from nutrient runoff and pollution of waterways.
That’s why adding organic inputs like compost is so important; it helps build resilience so soil can withstand heavy rains, drought, and other stresses common in Kenya’s changing climate.
Preparing your soil with compost needs to be done at the right time and in the right way so that your crops get the biggest benefit.
To get the most out of compost, add it to your soil about two weeks before planting. This gives the compost time to begin working for you, enriching the microbial life, and making nutrients available to young plants just as they’re getting established.
The amount of compost you use depends on the conditionof your land.
For moderately fertile land, apply approximately 250–500 kg per acre directly on the beds where the crops will be planted. For optimal results on less fertile soils, application rates can be increased to up to 2 tons per acre
For especially degraded or land with scarce nutrients, use 4-5 tons per acre.
Spreading compost evenly and incorporating it into the top soil layer (about the top 20–30 cm) ensures that nutrients are available where young plant roots first grow.
To purchase Terra Safi Organic Compost, contact us on WhatsApp at (0746 35 35 35) to make your order.
Compost works even better when it’s part of a broader approach to soil preparation:
Preparing the soil with organic inputs and good practices before planting helps crops make better use of nutrients and water throughout the season.
Farming is unpredictable. Challenges can show up almost overnight, bringing uncertainty with them. That’s why it helps to focus on what you can control, like preparing your soil early and avoiding the stress of being unprepared. We hope that you have learnt something new today and feel more confident taking these steps to strengthen your farm before the next season begins. A little preparation now can make a big difference later.
