Growing Cashew Nuts in Kitui
Soil suitability analysis based on Kitui's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Kitui is poorly suited to Cashew Nuts. Kitui's soil (pH 7.03, near-neutral) gives Cashew Nuts a suitability score of 17/100. Match fertilizer to Kitui's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kitui County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 17/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (30.5 mg/kg) and potassium (339 mg/kg) all meet Cashew Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. At 900 m, the county sits above Cashew Nuts's preferred altitude ceiling of 500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. Cashew Nuts's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 247,500/acre at KES 275/kg), but at Kitui's 17/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 191 kg/acre (~KES 52,525/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kitui soil | Cashew Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 30.5 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 339 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 600–1,500 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 900 m | 0–500 m | High |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag