Growing Beans in Kisii

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisii's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Kisii is moderately suited to Beans. Kisii's soil (pH 5.21, strongly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 72/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Kisii County is a solid choice for Beans, with a soil-match score of 72/100. At an average pH of 5.21 the soil is moderately acidic, below Beans's preferred 6–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.09 g/kg), phosphorus (13.1 mg/kg) and potassium (151 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisii County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.

72Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisii soilBeans needsStatus
pH5.2167Adjust
Nitrogen1.09 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus13.1 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium151 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,500 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Kisii

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
April
1st Weeding & Thinning
May
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
September
1st Weeding & Thinning
October
Flowering Stage

Dry Season· JanuaryMarch

January
Post-Harvest Storage
February
Land Resting
March
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per acre in Kisii
0

Kisii's nitrogen reads 1.09 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Kisii

Varieties suited to Kisii's 1,700 m altitude and 1,500 mm annual rainfall — 5 of 7 beans varieties we list.

KAT B1Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Yellow bean; highly tolerant to drought and heat.
ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
NyotaDryland/Medium
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-13 bags/acre
Navy bean type; iron-rich; KEPHIS certified; popular in export markets.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.
Kenya Mali (KAT SW-12)Medium
KALRO · 70-75 days · 11-13 bags/acre
Speckled sugar bean; high market value; widely traded in Nairobi market chains.

Economics

Market priceKES 130/kg
Expected yield in Kisii720 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 93,600/acre
Adjusted for Kisii's 72/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Beans can reach 800 kg/acre (~KES 104,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

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