Growing Green Grams in Samburu
Soil suitability analysis based on Samburu's nutrient profile
Samburu County is a solid choice for Green Grams, with a soil-match score of 62/100. At an average pH of 8.28 the soil sits above Green Grams's preferred 5.5–8 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 Green Grams's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Green Grams, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 300 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Green Grams crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Samburu soil | Green Grams needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.28 | 5.5–8 | Adjust |
| Nitrogen | 0.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 42.1 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 387 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Green grams fix their own nitrogen. No top dressing is needed.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
N26Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 3-5 bags/acre
Early maturing; tolerant to drought; popular in eastern Kenya.
KS 20Medium
KALRO · 65-75 days · 4-6 bags/acre
High yielding; good seed quality; resistant to yellow mosaic virus.
Economics
Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield300 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 36,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag