Growing Groundnuts in Murang'a
Soil suitability analysis based on Murang'a's nutrient profile
Murang'a County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.03 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.2 g/kg), phosphorus (12.2 mg/kg) and potassium (168 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Murang'a is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Murang'a soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.03 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.2 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 168 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 500–1,400 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.
Economics
Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield in Murang'a488 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 43,920/acre
Adjusted for Murang'a's 78/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Groundnuts can reach 500 kg/acre (~KES 45,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.
Preferred textureSandy
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