Growing Cashew Nuts in Tana River

Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile

Tana River County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 40/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.04 g/kg, P 8.5 mg/kg, K 108 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. Tana River receives approximately 400 mm/year — well below Cashew Nuts's minimum of 600 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cashew Nuts is the #36 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River County. Cashew Nuts's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 247,500/acre at KES 275/kg), but at Tana River's 40/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 450 kg/acre (~KES 123,750/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Tana River's soil: Sorghum, Cowpeas, and Pigeon Peas — each scores higher on the same soil.