Growing Chilies in Kitui
Soil suitability analysis based on Kitui's nutrient profile
Kitui County is well suited to Chilies, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Chilies prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 30.5 mg/kg, K 339 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chilies, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 165/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chilies crop here can gross roughly KES 297,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Kitui soil | Chilies needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 30.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 339 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Every 4 weeks during harvest
Instruction
Apply nitrogen to support continuous leaf and pepper setting.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Pilipili KichaaDryland/Medium
Local/KALRO · 90-120 days · 20-30 bags/acre
Very pungent; high market demand; drought tolerant.
Cayenne LongMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-100 days · 25-35 bags/acre
High yield; good for drying and fresh market.
Economics
Market priceKES 165/kg
Expected yield1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 297,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag