Growing Beans in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Yes — Kilifi is well suited to Beans. Kilifi's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Kilifi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kilifi County is well suited to Beans, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #8 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi 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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kilifi soil | Beans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.8 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 109 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 500–1,600 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 150 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Kilifi
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Kilifi's nitrogen reads 0.8 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Kilifi
Varieties suited to Kilifi's 150 m altitude and 700 mm annual rainfall — 4 of 7 beans varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag