Growing Chickpeas in Bungoma
Soil suitability analysis based on Bungoma's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Bungoma is poorly suited to Chickpeas. Bungoma's soil (pH 5.56, slightly acidic) gives Chickpeas a suitability score of 37/100. Match fertilizer to Bungoma's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Bungoma County is a challenging environment for Chickpeas (soil-match score 37/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 5.56 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8 band Chickpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.12 g/kg), phosphorus (15.7 mg/kg) and potassium (161 mg/kg) all meet Chickpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Chickpeas prefers sandy loam soils, while Bungoma is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Chickpeas is the #100 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Bungoma County. Chickpeas's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 120,000/acre at KES 200/kg), but at Bungoma's 37/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 278 kg/acre (~KES 55,600/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Bungoma's soil: Macadamia, Avocado, and Pineapple — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Bungoma soil | Chickpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.56 | 5.5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.12 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 15.7 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 161 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 150–500 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 1,500–2,600 m | OK |
Seed varieties for Bungoma
8 chickpeas varieties are rated for Bungoma's altitude (1,500 m) and rainfall (1,400 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag