Growing Stevia in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a challenging environment for Stevia (soil-match score 1/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Stevia 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. Stevia prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 50 m, the county sits below Stevia's preferred altitude range (500–2000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Stevia's full potential is about 3,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre at KES 200/kg), but at Mombasa's 1/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 38 kg/acre (~KES 7,600/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.