Growing Bambara Nuts in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is a solid choice for Bambara Nuts, with a soil-match score of 61/100. At an average pH of 7.5 the soil sits above Bambara Nuts's preferred 5–6.5 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Bambara Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Bambara Nuts, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 300 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Bambara Nuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Makueni soil | Bambara Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5–6.5 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Local CreamLowland/Medium 0-1600m
Local · 120-150 days · 4-6 bags/acre
Drought resistant; pods develop underground; high protein and soil building.
Local RedLowland/Medium 0-1600m
Local · 130-160 days · 3-5 bags/acre
Highly nutritious; rich in iron; excellent drought tolerance.
Economics
Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield300 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 45,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag