Growing Macadamia in Bungoma
Soil suitability analysis based on Bungoma's nutrient profile
Yes — Bungoma is well suited to Macadamia. Bungoma's soil (pH 5.56, slightly acidic) gives Macadamia a suitability score of 93/100. Match fertilizer to Bungoma's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Bungoma County is well suited to Macadamia, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.56 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 4.5–6.5 band Macadamia prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.12 g/kg), phosphorus (15.7 mg/kg) and potassium (161 mg/kg) all meet Macadamia's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Macadamia, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Macadamia is the single best-matched crop of the 106 we assess for Bungoma County. At current prices (about KES 110/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Macadamia crop here can gross roughly KES 198,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Bungoma soil | Macadamia needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.56 | 4.5–6.5 | 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 | 700–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 900–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag