Growing Groundnuts in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Groundnuts. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Groundnuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #35 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.

88Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKajiado soilGroundnuts needsStatus
pH6.5557OK
Nitrogen0.97 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus20.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium257 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall500 mm500–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield 500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 45,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy

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