Growing Coconuts in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Kilifi County is well suited to Coconuts, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8 band Coconuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Coconuts, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 22/kg) and a typical 2,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Coconuts crop here can gross roughly KES 55,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Kilifi soil | Coconuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5.5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.8 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 11 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 109 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Biannual start of rains
Instruction
Heavy potassium requirements. Broadcast MOP in root zone.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
East African TallCoastal
KALRO · 1500-2000 days · 80-120 tons/acre
Traditional variety; high nut yield; excellent adaptation to Kenya coast.
Malayan DwarfCoastal
KALRO · 1200-1800 days · 90-130 tons/acre
Early bearing dwarf; good for small farms; high copra content.
Economics
Market priceKES 22/kg
Expected yield2,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 55,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag