Growing Groundnuts in Nyeri

Soil suitability analysis based on Nyeri's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nyeri is well suited to Groundnuts. Nyeri's soil (pH 5.23, strongly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 84/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Nyeri County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.23 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.09 g/kg), phosphorus (15.5 mg/kg) and potassium (192 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Nyeri is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #9 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nyeri County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.

84Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNyeri soilGroundnuts needsStatus
pH5.2357OK
Nitrogen1.09 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus15.5 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium192 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm500–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–1,800 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Groundnuts fix their own Nitrogen. Apply gypsum at pegging for calcium.
Bags per acre in Nyeri
0

Nyeri's nitrogen reads 1.09 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Nyeri

Varieties suited to Nyeri's 1,700 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.

ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield 500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 45,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy

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