Growing Macadamia in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Lamu is poorly suited to Macadamia. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Macadamia a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is a challenging environment for Macadamia (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 4.5–6.5 band Macadamia 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. Macadamia prefers loam soils, while Lamu is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 10 m, the county sits below Macadamia's preferred altitude range (900–2100 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Macadamia is the #70 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. Macadamia's full potential is about 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 198,000/acre at KES 110/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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Macadamia needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 4.5–6.5 | 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 | 700–1,500 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 10 m | 900–2,100 m | Low |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag