Growing Sisal in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Mombasa is moderately suited to Sisal. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Sisal a suitability score of 66/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mombasa County is a solid choice for Sisal, with a soil-match score of 66/100. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Sisal prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.95 g/kg), phosphorus (8.4 mg/kg) and potassium (136 mg/kg) all meet Sisal's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Sisal, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sisal is the #56 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. Sisal's full potential is about 1,000 kg/acre (~KES 90,000/acre at KES 90/kg), but at Mombasa's 66/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 825 kg/acre (~KES 74,250/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Sisal needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5.5–8.5 | 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 | 250–700 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: Sisal is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Mombasa
Varieties suited to Mombasa's 50 m altitude and 1,000 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 1 sisal varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag