Growing Pigeon Peas in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Pigeon Peas. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Pigeon Peas 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 Pigeon Peas, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Pigeon Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.95 g/kg), phosphorus (8.4 mg/kg) and potassium (136 mg/kg) all meet Pigeon Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Pigeon Peas, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pigeon Peas is the #7 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 600 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pigeon Peas crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Pigeon Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 400–900 mm | High |
| 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: Pigeon Peas is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Recommended seed varieties
All 2 listed pigeon peas varieties shown — none are specifically rated for Mombasa's conditions. Confirm with your agrovet.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag