Growing Cashew Nuts in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Makueni is poorly suited to Cashew Nuts. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Cashew Nuts a suitability score of 18/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 18/100) 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 500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cashew Nuts is the #93 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. Cashew Nuts's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 247,500/acre at KES 275/kg), but at Makueni's 18/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 203 kg/acre (~KES 55,825/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Makueni's soil: Lucerne, Mango, and Sisal — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Cashew Nuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| 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 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–500 m | High |
Planting calendar for Makueni
Long Rains· March–May
Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Makueni's nitrogen (0.86 g/kg) already meets Cashew Nuts's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Makueni
Varieties suited to Makueni's 1,000 m altitude and 600 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 cashew nuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag