Growing Sweet Orange in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Mombasa is moderately suited to Sweet Orange. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Sweet Orange a suitability score of 72/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mombasa County is a solid choice for Sweet Orange, with a soil-match score of 72/100. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Sweet Orange 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/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Sweet Orange prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Sweet Orange is the #52 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Sweet Orange crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Sweet Orange 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 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 600–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 50 m | 0–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Mombasa
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Top dressing guide
Mombasa's nitrogen (0.95 g/kg) is 79% of the 1.2 g/kg Sweet Orange needs, so the standard 0.6 bags/acre is raised to 0.75. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag