Growing Chickpeas in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for Chickpeas (soil-match score 1/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8 band Chickpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.8 g/kg), phosphorus (11 mg/kg) and potassium (109 mg/kg) all meet Chickpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chickpeas, which favours sandy loam. At 150 m, the county sits below Chickpeas's preferred altitude range (1500–2600 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 200/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chickpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 100,000 per acre.