Growing Lentils in Kitui
Soil suitability analysis based on Kitui's nutrient profile
Lentils can be grown in Kitui County, but the soil scores 49/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lentils prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.74 g/kg), phosphorus (30.5 mg/kg) and potassium (339 mg/kg) all meet Lentils's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Lentils, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 180/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lentils crop here can gross roughly KES 108,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Kitui soil | Lentils needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| 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 100 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Local BrownLowland/Medium 600-1500m
Local · 100-110 days · 4-6 bags/acre
Local landrace; very popular in household consumption; high protein.
Local GreenLowland/Medium 600-1500m
Local · 90-100 days · 5-7 bags/acre
Early maturing; good market demand.
Economics
Market priceKES 180/kg
Expected yield600 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 108,000/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