Growing Tangerine in Kisumu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisumu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Kisumu is moderately suited to Tangerine. Kisumu's soil (pH 5.54, slightly acidic) gives Tangerine a suitability score of 62/100. Match fertilizer to Kisumu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kisumu County is a solid choice for Tangerine, with a soil-match score of 62/100. At an average pH of 5.54 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Tangerine's preferred 6–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.91 g/kg, P 12.5 mg/kg, K 166 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Tangerine prefers loam soils, while Kisumu is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tangerine is the #68 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisumu County. Tangerine's full potential is about 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Kisumu's 62/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 7,750 kg/acre (~KES 465,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

62Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisumu soilTangerine needsStatus
pH5.5467.5Adjust
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus12.5 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,200 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,150 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Kisumu

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Transplanting & Basal
April
Pruning & Top Dressing
May
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains· SeptemberNovember

September
Transplanting & Basal
October
Pruning & Top Dressing
November
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split feeding around the drip line; foliar zinc for leaf and fruit quality.
Bags per acre in Kisumu
0.750.6

Kisumu's nitrogen (0.91 g/kg) is 76% of the 1.2 g/kg Tangerine needs, so the standard 0.6 bags/acre is raised to 0.75. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Kisumu7,750 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 465,000/acre
Adjusted for Kisumu's 62/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Tangerine can reach 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/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