Growing Soybeans in Busia

Soil suitability analysis based on Busia's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Busia is well suited to Soybeans. Busia's soil (pH 5.29, strongly acidic) gives Soybeans a suitability score of 85/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Busia County is well suited to Soybeans, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.29 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Soybeans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (16.6 mg/kg) and potassium (175 mg/kg) all meet Soybeans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Soybeans, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Soybeans crop here can gross roughly KES 52,500 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBusia soilSoybeans needsStatus
pH5.2957OK
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus16.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium175 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm600–2,000 mmOK
Altitude1,200 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Soybeans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it suppresses nodulation and reduces yield.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

SB 19Medium/Highland
KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
High protein content; disease resistant; good for oil and flour.
GazelleMedium
Pannar Seeds · 95-110 days · 10-14 bags/acre
High yielding hybrid; excellent grain quality; broad adaptation.

Economics

Market priceKES 75/kg
Expected yield 700 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 52,500/acre

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