Growing Tangerine in Nyamira

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyamira's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Possible but challenging — Nyamira is only marginally suited to Tangerine. Nyamira's soil (pH 5.58, slightly acidic) gives Tangerine a suitability score of 50/100. Match fertilizer to Nyamira's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Tangerine can be grown in Nyamira County, but the soil scores 50/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 5.58 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Tangerine's preferred 6–7.5 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.84 g/kg, P 11.6 mg/kg, K 148 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Tangerine, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tangerine is the #69 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyamira County. Tangerine's full potential is about 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Nyamira's 50/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 6,250 kg/acre (~KES 375,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Nyamira's soil: Sweet Potato, Soybeans, and Pineapple — each scores higher on the same soil.

50Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNyamira soilTangerine needsStatus
pH5.5867.5Adjust
Nitrogen0.84 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus11.6 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium148 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,600 mm600–1,200 mmHigh
Altitude1,700 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Nyamira

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Transplanting & Basal
April
Pruning & Top Dressing
May
Flowering & Fruit Set

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Transplanting & Basal
September
Pruning & Top Dressing
October
Fruit Development

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split feeding around the drip line; foliar zinc for leaf and fruit quality.
Bags per acre in Nyamira
0.750.6

Nyamira's nitrogen (0.84 g/kg) is 70% of the 1.2 g/kg Tangerine needs, so the standard 0.6 bags/acre is raised to 0.75. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Nyamira6,250 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 375,000/acre
Adjusted for Nyamira's 50/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Tangerine can reach 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureLoam

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