Growing Pigeon Peas in Homa Bay
Soil suitability analysis based on Homa Bay's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Homa Bay is moderately suited to Pigeon Peas. Homa Bay's soil (pH 5.27, strongly acidic) gives Pigeon Peas a suitability score of 66/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Homa Bay County is a solid choice for Pigeon Peas, with a soil-match score of 66/100. Local soils average pH 5.27 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–8 band Pigeon Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.05 g/kg), phosphorus (13.8 mg/kg) and potassium (147 mg/kg) all meet Pigeon Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pigeon Peas prefers sandy soils, while Homa Bay is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pigeon Peas is the #48 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Homa Bay County. Pigeon Peas's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 45,000/acre at KES 75/kg), but at Homa Bay's 66/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 495 kg/acre (~KES 37,125/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Homa Bay soil | Pigeon Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.27 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.05 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 13.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 147 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,100 mm | 400–900 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Homa Bay's nitrogen reads 1.05 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Pigeon Peas is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Homa Bay
Varieties suited to Homa Bay's 1,200 m altitude and 1,100 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 pigeon peas varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag