Growing Cowpeas in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Yes — Nairobi is well suited to Cowpeas. Nairobi's soil (pH 6.85, near-neutral) gives Cowpeas a suitability score of 79/100. Match fertilizer to Nairobi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nairobi County is well suited to Cowpeas, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 5–8 band Cowpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.1 g/kg), phosphorus (22.1 mg/kg) and potassium (236 mg/kg) all meet Cowpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Cowpeas prefers sandy soils, while Nairobi is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cowpeas is the #71 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nairobi County. At current prices (about KES 65/kg) and a typical 450 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cowpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 29,250 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nairobi soil | Cowpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 250–700 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Nairobi's nitrogen reads 1.1 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Cowpeas is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Nairobi
Varieties suited to Nairobi's 1,700 m altitude and 900 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 cowpeas varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag