Growing Green Grams in Nakuru

Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nakuru is well suited to Green Grams. Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives Green Grams a suitability score of 77/100. Match fertilizer to Nakuru's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nakuru County is well suited to Green Grams, scoring 77/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8 band Green Grams prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Green Grams's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Green Grams prefers sandy loam soils, while Nakuru is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 400 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Green Grams crop here can gross roughly KES 48,000 per acre.

77Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNakuru soilGreen Grams needsStatus
pH6.285.58OK
Nitrogen1.59 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.2 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium239 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall900 mm250–700 mmHigh
Altitude1,750 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Green Grams fix atmospheric Nitrogen. No top dressing needed. Inoculate seed with Rhizobium before planting.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

N26Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 3-5 bags/acre
Early maturing; tolerant to drought; popular in eastern Kenya.
KS 20Medium
KALRO · 65-75 days · 4-6 bags/acre
High yielding; good seed quality; resistant to yellow mosaic virus.

Economics

Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield in Nakuru385 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 46,200/acre
Adjusted for Nakuru's 77/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Green Grams can reach 400 kg/acre (~KES 48,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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