Growing Beans in Elgeyo Marakwet

Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Elgeyo Marakwet is well suited to Beans. Elgeyo Marakwet's soil (pH 6.27, slightly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 93/100. Match fertilizer to Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Beans, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 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 #4 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Elgeyo Marakwet 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.

93Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorElgeyo Marakwet soilBeans needsStatus
pH6.2767OK
Nitrogen1.39 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus22.2 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude1,800 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage

Dry Season

Month 1
Post-Harvest Storage
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

KAT B1Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Yellow bean; highly tolerant to drought and heat.
KAT X56Dryland
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-12 bags/acre
Red mottled; resistant to bean common mosaic virus.
ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
NyotaDryland/Medium
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-13 bags/acre
Navy bean type; iron-rich; KEPHIS certified; popular in export markets.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.
KAT X69Dryland
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-11 bags/acre
Small red bean; heat tolerant; suited to semi-arid lowland conditions.
Kenya Mali (KAT SW-12)Medium
KALRO · 70-75 days · 11-13 bags/acre
Speckled sugar bean; high market value; widely traded in Nairobi market chains.

Economics

Market priceKES 130/kg
Expected yield 800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 104,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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