Growing Garden Peas in Mandera
Soil suitability analysis based on Mandera's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Mandera is poorly suited to Garden Peas. Mandera's soil (pH 8.38, alkaline) gives Garden Peas a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Mandera's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mandera County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 8.38 the soil sits above Garden Peas's preferred 5.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.53 g/kg), phosphorus (38.3 mg/kg) and potassium (420 mg/kg) all meet Garden Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. Mandera receives approximately 180 mm/year — well below Garden Peas's minimum of 800 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Garden Peas is the #95 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mandera County. Garden Peas's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre at KES 145/kg), but at Mandera's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Mandera's soil: Sisal, Aloe Vera, and Green Grams — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mandera soil | Garden Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.38 | 5.5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.53 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 38.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 420 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 180 mm | 800–2,100 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 250 m | 1,500–2,600 m | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag