Growing African Nightshade in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Lamu County is a challenging environment for African Nightshade (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band African Nightshade prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. African Nightshade prefers loam soils, while Lamu is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 10 m, the county sits below African Nightshade's preferred altitude range (1000–2200 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 3,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed African Nightshade crop here can gross roughly KES 175,000 per acre.