Growing Chickpeas in Makueni

Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile

Makueni County is a challenging environment for Chickpeas (soil-match score 33/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–8 band Chickpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Chickpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Chickpeas, which favours sandy loam. At 1000 m, the county sits below Chickpeas's preferred altitude range (1500–2600 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 200/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chickpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 100,000 per acre.