Growing Cowpeas in Kilifi
Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile
Yes — Kilifi is well suited to Cowpeas. Kilifi's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Cowpeas a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Kilifi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kilifi County is well suited to Cowpeas, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Cowpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.8 g/kg), phosphorus (11 mg/kg) and potassium (109 mg/kg) all meet Cowpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cowpeas, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cowpeas is the #4 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi County. At current prices (about KES 65/kg) and a typical 450 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cowpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 29,250 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kilifi soil | Cowpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 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 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 150 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag