Growing Lentils in Kwale

Soil suitability analysis based on Kwale's nutrient profile

Kwale County is a challenging environment for Lentils (soil-match score 2/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.76 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lentils prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 0.93 g/kg, P 9.8 mg/kg, K 131 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Lentils, which favours sandy loam. At 200 m, the county sits below Lentils's preferred altitude range (1200–2400 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lentils is the #90 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kwale County. Lentils's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 108,000/acre at KES 180/kg), but at Kwale's 2/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 15 kg/acre (~KES 2,700/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.