Growing Beans in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Beans. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Mombasa County is well suited to Beans, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Beans prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #6 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilBeans needsStatus
pH6.2467OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude50 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
1st Weeding & Thinning
Month 3
Flowering Stage

Dry Season

Month 1
Post-Harvest Storage
Month 2
Land Resting
Month 3
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

KAT B1Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Yellow bean; highly tolerant to drought and heat.
KAT X56Dryland
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-12 bags/acre
Red mottled; resistant to bean common mosaic virus.
ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
NyotaDryland/Medium
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-13 bags/acre
Navy bean type; iron-rich; KEPHIS certified; popular in export markets.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.
KAT X69Dryland
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-11 bags/acre
Small red bean; heat tolerant; suited to semi-arid lowland conditions.
Kenya Mali (KAT SW-12)Medium
KALRO · 70-75 days · 11-13 bags/acre
Speckled sugar bean; high market value; widely traded in Nairobi market chains.

Economics

Market priceKES 130/kg
Expected yield 800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 104,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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