Growing Soybeans in Nyandarua
Soil suitability analysis based on Nyandarua's nutrient profile
Possible but challenging — Nyandarua is only marginally suited to Soybeans. Nyandarua's soil (pH 5.38, strongly acidic) gives Soybeans a suitability score of 53/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Soybeans can be grown in Nyandarua County, but the soil scores 53/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 5.38 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Soybeans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.28 g/kg), phosphorus (14 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Soybeans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Soybeans prefers loam soils, while Nyandarua is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 2300 m, the county sits above Soybeans's preferred altitude ceiling of 1800 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Soybeans is the #62 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyandarua County. Soybeans's full potential is about 700 kg/acre (~KES 52,500/acre at KES 75/kg), but at Nyandarua's 53/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 464 kg/acre (~KES 34,800/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Nyandarua's soil: Tea, Pyrethrum, and Potato — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nyandarua soil | Soybeans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.38 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.28 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 14 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 166 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,100 mm | 600–2,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 2,300 m | 0–1,800 m | High |
Top dressing guide
Nyandarua's nitrogen reads 1.28 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Soybeans 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 — 1 of 2 soybeans varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag