Growing Garden Peas in Marsabit
Soil suitability analysis based on Marsabit's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Marsabit is poorly suited to Garden Peas. Marsabit's soil (pH 8.22, alkaline) gives Garden Peas a suitability score of 4/100. Match fertilizer to Marsabit's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Marsabit County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (soil-match score 4/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 8.22 the soil sits above Garden Peas's preferred 5.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.52 g/kg), phosphorus (37.3 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. Marsabit receives approximately 300 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 #92 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Marsabit County. Garden Peas's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre at KES 145/kg), but at Marsabit's 4/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 125 kg/acre (~KES 18,125/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Marsabit's soil: Sisal, Chia, and Aloe Vera — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Marsabit soil | Garden Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.22 | 5.5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.52 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 37.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 420 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 300 mm | 800–2,100 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 1,500–2,600 m | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag