Growing Cowpeas in Garissa
Soil suitability analysis based on Garissa's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Garissa is moderately suited to Cowpeas. Garissa's soil (pH 7.96, alkaline) gives Cowpeas a suitability score of 67/100. Match fertilizer to Garissa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Garissa County is a solid choice for Cowpeas, with a soil-match score of 67/100. Local soils average pH 7.96 — alkaline and inside the 5–8 band Cowpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.61 g/kg), phosphorus (37.7 mg/kg) and potassium (407 mg/kg) all meet Cowpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Cowpeas, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cowpeas is the #5 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Garissa County. Cowpeas's full potential is about 450 kg/acre (~KES 29,250/acre at KES 65/kg), but at Garissa's 67/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 377 kg/acre (~KES 24,505/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Garissa soil | Cowpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.96 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.61 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 37.7 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 407 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 250 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag