Growing Garden Peas in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Lamu County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (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 band Garden Peas 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/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. At 10 m, the county sits below Garden Peas's preferred altitude range (1500–2600 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 145/kg) and a typical 2,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Garden Peas crop here can gross roughly KES 290,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Lamu soil | Garden Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag