Growing Dolichos in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Makueni is moderately suited to Dolichos. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Dolichos a suitability score of 70/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is a solid choice for Dolichos, with a soil-match score of 70/100. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5–7.5 band Dolichos prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Dolichos's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Dolichos, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Dolichos is the #42 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. Dolichos's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 72,000/acre at KES 120/kg), but at Makueni's 70/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 525 kg/acre (~KES 63,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Dolichos 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 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 400–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 1,000–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag