Growing Guava in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kilifi is well suited to Guava. Kilifi's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Guava a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Kilifi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kilifi County is well suited to Guava, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Guava prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Guava, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Guava is the #17 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Guava crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKilifi soilGuava needsStatus
pH6.245.57.5OK
Nitrogen0.8 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus11 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium109 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall700 mm700–1,800 mmOK
Altitude150 m0–1,800 mOK

Planting calendar for Kilifi

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Transplanting & Basal
May
Pruning & Top Dressing
June
Fruit Development

Short Rains· NovemberJanuary

November
Transplanting & Basal
December
Pruning & Top Dressing
January
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per year at start of rains
Instruction
Ring-apply around the drip line. Add NPK at flowering.
Bags per acre in Kilifi
0.5

Kilifi's nitrogen (0.8 g/kg) already meets Guava's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag