Growing French Beans in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Kajiado County is a challenging environment for French Beans (soil-match score 28/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band French Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet French Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. Kajiado receives approximately 500 mm/year — well below French Beans's minimum of 900 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 3,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed French Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 240,000 per acre.