Growing French Beans in Tana River

Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile

Tana River County is a challenging environment for French Beans (soil-match score 1/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band French Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 1.04 g/kg, P 8.5 mg/kg, K 108 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. French Beans prefers loam soils, while Tana River is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. Tana River receives approximately 400 mm/year — well below French Beans's minimum of 900 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #87 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Tana River's 1/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 44 kg/acre (~KES 3,520/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.