Growing Groundnuts in Siaya

Soil suitability analysis based on Siaya's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Siaya is well suited to Groundnuts. Siaya's soil (pH 5.33, strongly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 84/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.

Siaya County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.33 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.2 g/kg, P 12.1 mg/kg, K 134 mg/kg against this crop's low/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Siaya is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #8 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Siaya 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

FactorSiaya soilGroundnuts needsStatus
pH5.3357OK
Nitrogen1.2 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus12.1 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium134 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,200 mm500–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,200 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
0

Recommended seed varieties

ICGV-SM 99568Dryland/Medium
ICRISAT/KALRO · 90-100 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Rosette virus resistant; high oil content.
Red ValenciaDryland
Local/KALRO · 100-110 days · 6-10 bags/acre
Popular local market variety; good taste.

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