Growing Rice (Upland) in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Rice (Upland). Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Rice (Upland) a suitability score of 83/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Mombasa County is well suited to Rice (Upland), scoring 83/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Rice (Upland) 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/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Rice (Upland) prefers clay soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Rice (Upland) is the #21 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. At current prices (about KES 105/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Rice (Upland) crop here can gross roughly KES 189,000 per acre.

83Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilRice (Upland) needsStatus
pH6.2457OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm800–2,000 mmOK
Altitude50 m0–1,300 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
Urea
Timing
Tillering and panicle initiation
Instruction
Split into 2 applications. Flooding helps N uptake.
Bags per Acre
1

Recommended seed varieties

NERICA 1Medium
WARDA/KALRO · 90-100 days · 15-20 bags/acre
Upland adapted; drought tolerant; good grain quality.
NERICA 10Medium/Dryland
WARDA/KALRO · 100-110 days · 12-18 bags/acre
Resistant to blast; good milling quality.

Economics

Market priceKES 105/kg
Expected yield 1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 189,000/acre

Preferred textureClay

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag