Growing Cashew Nuts in Makueni

Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile

Makueni County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 40/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Cashew Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. At 1000 m, the county sits above Cashew Nuts's preferred altitude ceiling of 700 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. At current prices (about KES 275/kg) and a typical 900 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cashew Nuts crop here can gross roughly KES 247,500 per acre.