Growing Chilies in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Yes — Lamu is well suited to Chilies. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Chilies a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is well suited to Chilies, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Chilies 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 medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Chilies, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 165/kg) and a typical 2,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chilies crop here can gross roughly KES 412,500 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Chilies needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 500–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 10 m | 0–1,200 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag