Growing Cowpeas in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Makueni County is well suited to Cowpeas, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5–8 band Cowpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Cowpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cowpeas, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 65/kg) and a typical 450 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cowpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 29,250 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Cowpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5–8 | 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 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Cowpeas fix atmospheric Nitrogen. No top dressing needed.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
KVU 27-1Dryland
KALRO · 60-70 days · 4-6 bags/acre
Dual purpose (grain and fodder); drought tolerant.
M66Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 55-65 days · 5-8 bags/acre
Early maturing; resistant to aphids and pod borers.
Economics
Market priceKES 65/kg
Expected yield in Makueni428 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 27,820/acre
Adjusted for Makueni's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Cowpeas can reach 450 kg/acre (~KES 29,250/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
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