Growing Mango in Lamu

Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Lamu is well suited to Mango. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Mango a suitability score of 83/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Lamu County is well suited to Mango, scoring 83/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Mango prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Mango, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 10/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Mango crop here can gross roughly KES 80,000 per acre.

83Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorLamu soilMango needsStatus
pH6.315.58.5OK
Nitrogen0.74 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus9.6 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium117 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall600 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude10 m0–1,200 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Before flowering (once annually)
Instruction
Apply 2–3 months before expected flowering. Excess N delays fruiting.
Bags per Acre
0.3

Recommended seed varieties

Apple MangoCoastal/Dryland
KALRO/HCDA · 1000-1200 days · 3.6–5.4 tons/acre
Most popular domestic variety; sweet and juicy.
Tommy AtkinsCoastal/Dryland
KALRO/HCDA · 1000-1200 days · 4.5–7.2 tons/acre
Export quality; good shelf life; disease tolerant.

Economics

Market priceKES 10/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 80,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag