Growing Macadamia in Nyandarua

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyandarua's nutrient profile

Nyandarua County is well suited to Macadamia, scoring 77/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.38 — moderately acidic and inside the 4.5–6.5 band Macadamia prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.28 g/kg), phosphorus (14 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Macadamia's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Macadamia prefers loam soils, while Nyandarua is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 110/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Macadamia crop here can gross roughly KES 198,000 per acre.