Growing Beans in Nyandarua

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyandarua's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nyandarua is well suited to Beans. Nyandarua's soil (pH 5.38, strongly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 76/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Nyandarua County is well suited to Beans, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.38 the soil is moderately acidic, below Beans's preferred 6–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.28 g/kg), phosphorus (14 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Beans prefers loam soils, while Nyandarua is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #16 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyandarua County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNyandarua soilBeans needsStatus
pH5.3867Adjust
Nitrogen1.28 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus14 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude2,300 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Nyandarua

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
April
1st Weeding & Thinning
May
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
November
1st Weeding & Thinning
December
Flowering Stage

Dry Season· JanuaryMarch

January
Post-Harvest Storage
February
Land Resting
March
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per acre in Nyandarua
0

Nyandarua's nitrogen reads 1.28 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Nyandarua

Varieties suited to Nyandarua's 2,300 m altitude and 1,100 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 7 beans varieties we list.

ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.

Economics

Market priceKES 130/kg
Expected yield in Nyandarua760 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 98,800/acre
Adjusted for Nyandarua's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Beans can reach 800 kg/acre (~KES 104,000/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