Growing Quinoa in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for Quinoa (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 6–8.5 band Quinoa 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 Quinoa, which favours loam. At 150 m, the county sits below Quinoa's preferred altitude range (1500–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Quinoa is the #99 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi County. Quinoa's full potential is about 700 kg/acre (~KES 105,000/acre at KES 150/kg), but at Kilifi's 1/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 9 kg/acre (~KES 1,350/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kilifi's soil: Sesame (Simsim), Sorghum, and Finger Millet — each scores higher on the same soil.