Growing Groundnuts in Meru
Soil suitability analysis based on Meru's nutrient profile
Yes — Meru is well suited to Groundnuts. Meru's soil (pH 4.88, strongly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 76/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Meru County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 4.88 the soil is strongly acidic, below Groundnuts's preferred 5–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.22 g/kg), phosphorus (20.3 mg/kg) and potassium (218 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Meru is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #10 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Meru County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Meru soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 4.88 | 5–7 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 1.22 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 20.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 218 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 500–1,400 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Meru's nitrogen reads 1.22 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Meru
Varieties suited to Meru's 1,500 m altitude and 1,400 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag