Growing Bambara Nuts in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Bambara Nuts. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Bambara Nuts a suitability score of 78/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Mombasa County is well suited to Bambara Nuts, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–6.5 band Bambara Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.95 g/kg), phosphorus (8.4 mg/kg) and potassium (136 mg/kg) all meet Bambara Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Bambara Nuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Bambara Nuts is the #36 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Bambara Nuts crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.

78Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilBambara Nuts needsStatus
pH6.2456.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm500–800 mmHigh
Altitude50 m0–1,600 mOK

Recommended seed varieties

Local CreamLowland/Medium 0-1600m
Local · 120-150 days · 4-6 bags/acre
Drought resistant; pods develop underground; high protein and soil building.
Local RedLowland/Medium 0-1600m
Local · 130-160 days · 3-5 bags/acre
Highly nutritious; rich in iron; excellent drought tolerance.

Economics

Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa390 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 58,500/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 78/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Bambara Nuts can reach 400 kg/acre (~KES 60,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag