Growing Pawpaw in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Pawpaw. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Pawpaw 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 Pawpaw, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Pawpaw prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Pawpaw, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 28/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pawpaw crop here can gross roughly KES 336,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Pawpaw needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 50 m | 0–1,200 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag