Growing Guava in Bungoma
Soil suitability analysis based on Bungoma's nutrient profile
Bungoma County is well suited to Guava, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.56 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Guava prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.12 g/kg), phosphorus (15.7 mg/kg) and potassium (161 mg/kg) all meet Guava's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Guava, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Guava crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Bungoma soil | Guava needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.56 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.12 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 15.7 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 161 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 700–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development
Short Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per year at start of rains
Instruction
Ring-apply around the drip line. Add NPK at flowering.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Economics
Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Bungoma9,875 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 592,500/acre
Adjusted for Bungoma's 79/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Guava can reach 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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