Growing Cabbage in Kwale

Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile

Kwale County is a challenging environment for Cabbage (soil-match score 5/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.76 — neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cabbage prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.93 g/kg, P 9.8 mg/kg, K 131 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Cabbage prefers clay loam soils, while Kwale is largely sandy loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 200 m, the county sits below Cabbage's preferred altitude range (800–2500 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cabbage is the #70 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kwale County. Cabbage's full potential is about 15,000 kg/acre (~KES 270,000/acre at KES 18/kg), but at Kwale's 5/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 938 kg/acre (~KES 16,884/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kwale's soil: Dhania, Pigeon Peas, and Mango — each scores higher on the same soil.