Growing Pigeon Peas in Siaya
Soil suitability analysis based on Siaya's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Siaya is moderately suited to Pigeon Peas. Siaya's soil (pH 5.33, strongly acidic) gives Pigeon Peas a suitability score of 63/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Siaya County is a solid choice for Pigeon Peas, with a soil-match score of 63/100. Local soils average pH 5.33 — moderately acidic and inside the 5–8 band Pigeon Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.2 g/kg), phosphorus (12.1 mg/kg) and potassium (134 mg/kg) all meet Pigeon Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pigeon Peas prefers sandy soils, while Siaya is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pigeon Peas is the #60 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Siaya County. Pigeon Peas's full potential is about 600 kg/acre (~KES 45,000/acre at KES 75/kg), but at Siaya's 63/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 473 kg/acre (~KES 35,475/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Siaya soil | Pigeon Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.33 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.2 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 12.1 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 134 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,200 mm | 400–900 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Siaya's nitrogen reads 1.2 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Pigeon Peas is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Siaya
Varieties suited to Siaya's 1,200 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 pigeon peas varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag