Growing Tangerine in Nyandarua

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyandarua's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Possible but challenging — Nyandarua is only marginally suited to Tangerine. Nyandarua's soil (pH 5.38, strongly acidic) gives Tangerine a suitability score of 53/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Tangerine can be grown in Nyandarua County, but the soil scores 53/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 5.38 the soil is moderately acidic, 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 phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 1.28 g/kg, P 14 mg/kg, K 166 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Tangerine prefers loam soils, while Nyandarua is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Tangerine is the #65 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyandarua County. Tangerine's full potential is about 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 600,000/acre at KES 60/kg), but at Nyandarua's 53/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 6,625 kg/acre (~KES 397,500/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Nyandarua's soil: Tea, Pyrethrum, and Potato — each scores higher on the same soil.

53Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNyandarua soilTangerine needsStatus
pH5.3867.5Adjust
Nitrogen1.28 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus14 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,100 mm600–1,200 mmOK
Altitude2,300 m0–2,100 mHigh

Planting calendar for Nyandarua

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

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

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Transplanting & Basal
November
Pruning & Top Dressing
December
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 Nyandarua
0.50.6

Nyandarua's nitrogen (1.28 g/kg) already meets Tangerine's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 60/kg
Expected yield in Nyandarua6,625 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 397,500/acre
Adjusted for Nyandarua's 53/100 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