Growing Garden Peas in Kwale

Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Generally not ideal — Kwale is poorly suited to Garden Peas. Kwale's soil (pH 6.76, near-neutral) gives Garden Peas a suitability score of 2/100. Match fertilizer to Kwale's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kwale County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (soil-match score 2/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.76 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Garden Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.93 g/kg, P 9.8 mg/kg, K 131 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. At 200 m, the county sits below Garden Peas's preferred altitude range (1500–2600 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Garden Peas is the #89 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kwale County. Garden Peas's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre at KES 145/kg), but at Kwale's 2/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 63 kg/acre (~KES 9,135/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.

2Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKwale soilGarden Peas needsStatus
pH6.765.57OK
Nitrogen0.93 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus9.8 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium131 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall900 mm800–2,100 mmOK
Altitude200 m1,500–2,600 mLow

Recommended seed varieties

Njabini (PI Moto super)Highland 1500-2600m
Simlaw Seeds · 60-90 days · 8-9 bags/acre
Dual purpose (fresh & dry); drought tolerant; requires vertical trailing.
GreenwichHighland 1600-2600m
Agventure Limited / RAGT · 90-120 days · 5-19 bags/acre
Large green grain; dual purpose; good soakability & rapid cookability.
KWS KariokaHighland 1600-2600m
Agventure Limited / KWS · 90-120 days · 5-17 bags/acre
Medium green grain; dual purpose; good color retention.
Blue MoonHighland 1200-2400m
Maribo DK · 120 days · 13-18 bags/acre
Good lodging resistance; strong straw; French-bred (2016).

Economics

Market priceKES 145/kg
Expected yield in Kwale63 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 9,135/acre
Adjusted for Kwale's 2/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Garden Peas can reach 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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