Growing Groundnuts in Nandi

Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nandi is well suited to Groundnuts. Nandi's soil (pH 6.17, slightly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 84/100. Match fertilizer to Nandi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nandi County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.17 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Nandi is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #37 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nandi County. 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.

84Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNandi soilGroundnuts needsStatus
pH6.1757OK
Nitrogen1.37 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus26.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium207 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm500–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m0–1,800 mHigh

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per acre in Nandi
0

Nandi's nitrogen reads 1.37 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Nandi

Varieties suited to Nandi's 1,900 m altitude and 1,400 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.

ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield 500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 45,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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