Growing Tangerine in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a solid choice for Tangerine, 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 Tangerine 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. Tangerine prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tangerine crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

72Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilTangerine needsStatus
pH6.2467.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude50 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains

Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split feeding around the drip line; foliar zinc for leaf and fruit quality.
Bags per Acre
0.6

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa9,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 540,000/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 72/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Tangerine can reach 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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