Growing Beans in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Busia is moderately suited to Beans. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 74/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Busia County is a solid choice for Beans, with a soil-match score of 74/100. At an average pH of 5.29 the soil is moderately acidic, below Beans's preferred 6–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Busia County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Busia soil | Beans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 6–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.91 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 175 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 500–1,600 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Busia
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· September–November
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Busia's nitrogen reads 0.91 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Busia
Varieties suited to Busia's 1,200 m altitude and 1,400 mm annual rainfall — 5 of 7 beans varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag