Growing Bambara Nuts in Kwale
Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Kwale is moderately suited to Bambara Nuts. Kwale's soil (pH 6.76, near-neutral) gives Bambara Nuts a suitability score of 73/100. Match fertilizer to Kwale's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Kwale County is a solid choice for Bambara Nuts, with a soil-match score of 73/100. At an average pH of 6.76 the soil sits above Bambara Nuts's preferred 5–6.5 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.93 g/kg), phosphorus (9.8 mg/kg) and potassium (131 mg/kg) all meet Bambara Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Bambara Nuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Bambara Nuts is the #53 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kwale County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Bambara Nuts crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kwale soil | Bambara Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.76 | 5–6.5 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.93 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 131 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 500–800 mm | High |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–1,600 m | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag