Growing Groundnuts in Kisii
Soil suitability analysis based on Kisii's nutrient profile
Yes — Kisii is well suited to Groundnuts. Kisii's soil (pH 5.21, strongly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 79/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Kisii County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.21 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.09 g/kg), phosphorus (13.1 mg/kg) and potassium (151 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Kisii is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #15 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisii County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kisii soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.21 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.09 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 13.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 151 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,500 mm | 500–1,400 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Kisii's nitrogen reads 1.09 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts 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 — 1 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag