Growing Dolichos in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a challenging environment for Dolichos (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 5–7.5 band Dolichos prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.95 g/kg), phosphorus (8.4 mg/kg) and potassium (136 mg/kg) all meet Dolichos's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Dolichos, which favours sandy loam. At 50 m, the county sits below Dolichos's preferred altitude range (1000–2100 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dolichos crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.