Growing French Beans in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Lamu County is a challenging environment for French Beans (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 5.8–7 band French Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. French Beans prefers loam soils, while Lamu is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. Lamu receives approximately 600 mm/year — well below French Beans's minimum of 900 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #78 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Lamu's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Lamu's soil: Sesame (Simsim), Sorghum, and Cowpeas — each scores higher on the same soil.