Growing Groundnuts in Kitui
Soil suitability analysis based on Kitui's nutrient profile
Kitui County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above Groundnuts's preferred 5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (30.5 mg/kg) and potassium (339 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Groundnuts, which favours sandy. 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.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kitui soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 30.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 339 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 500 mm | 500–1,400 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 900 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.
Economics
Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield in Kitui475 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 42,750/acre
Adjusted for Kitui's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Groundnuts can reach 500 kg/acre (~KES 45,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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