Growing Lentils in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a challenging environment for Lentils (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 Lentils 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. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Lentils, which favours sandy loam. At 50 m, the county sits below Lentils's preferred altitude range (1200–2400 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 180/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lentils crop here can gross roughly KES 108,000 per acre.