Growing Cabbage in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for Cabbage (soil-match score 3/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cabbage prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Cabbage prefers clay loam soils, while Kilifi is largely sandy loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 150 m, the county sits below Cabbage's preferred altitude range (800–2500 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Cabbage's full potential is about 15,000 kg/acre (~KES 270,000/acre at KES 18/kg), but at Kilifi's 3/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 563 kg/acre (~KES 10,134/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.