Growing Soybeans in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Yes — Nairobi is well suited to Soybeans. Nairobi's soil (pH 6.85, near-neutral) gives Soybeans a suitability score of 82/100. Match fertilizer to Nairobi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nairobi County is well suited to Soybeans, scoring 82/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 5–7 band Soybeans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.1 g/kg), phosphorus (22.1 mg/kg) and potassium (236 mg/kg) all meet Soybeans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Soybeans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Soybeans is the #63 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nairobi County. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 700 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Soybeans crop here can gross roughly KES 52,500 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nairobi soil | Soybeans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 600–2,000 mm | OK |
| 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: Soybeans 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 soybeans varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag