Growing African Nightshade in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a challenging environment for African Nightshade (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band African Nightshade prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. African Nightshade prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 50 m, the county sits below African Nightshade's preferred altitude range (1000–2200 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 3,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed African Nightshade crop here can gross roughly KES 175,000 per acre.