Growing Macadamia in Busia
Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile
Yes — Busia is well suited to Macadamia. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Macadamia a suitability score of 92/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Busia County is well suited to Macadamia, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.29 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–6.5 band Macadamia prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 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 Busia 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 | Busia soil | Macadamia needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.29 | 4.5–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.91 g/kg | min 0.8 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 | 700–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,200 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