Growing Groundnuts in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Groundnuts. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 86/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mombasa County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 86/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Groundnuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #8 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa 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 | Mombasa soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 500–1,400 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 50 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Mombasa's nitrogen reads 0.95 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Recommended seed varieties
No variety in our list is specifically rated for Mombasa's 50 m altitude and 1,000 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag