Growing Passion Fruit in Nandi

Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nandi is well suited to Passion Fruit. Nandi's soil (pH 6.17, slightly acidic) gives Passion Fruit a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Nandi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nandi County is well suited to Passion Fruit, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.17 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Passion Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Passion Fruit's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Passion Fruit, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 70/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Passion Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 560,000 per acre.

91Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNandi soilPassion Fruit needsStatus
pH6.175.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.37 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus26.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium207 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm900–1,800 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m1,200–2,500 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Start of rains biannual
Instruction
Apply in a ring around the drip line. Split into 2 applications per year.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Purple PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 365-548 days · 4.5–7.2 tons/acre
Purple fruited; high juice content; good local and export market.
Yellow PassionMedium/Highland
KALRO · 270-365 days · 5.4–8.1 tons/acre
Yellow fruited; more vigorous; tolerant to fusarium wilt.

Economics

Market priceKES 70/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 560,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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