Growing Groundnuts in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Yes — Busia is well suited to Groundnuts. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 85/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Busia County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.29 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Busia is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #8 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Busia County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Busia soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 5–7 | OK |
| 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 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 500–1,400 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag