Growing Garden Peas in Samburu

Soil suitability analysis based on Samburu's nutrient profile

Samburu County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (soil-match score 4/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 8.28 the soil sits above Garden Peas's preferred 5.5–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.67 g/kg), phosphorus (42.1 mg/kg) and potassium (387 mg/kg) all meet Garden Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. Samburu receives approximately 350 mm/year — well below Garden Peas's minimum of 800 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Garden Peas is the #96 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Samburu County. Garden Peas's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre at KES 145/kg), but at Samburu's 4/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 125 kg/acre (~KES 18,125/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Samburu's soil: Sisal, Aloe Vera, and Green Grams — each scores higher on the same soil.