Growing Garden Peas in Tana River
Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Tana River is poorly suited to Garden Peas. Tana River's soil (pH 6.4, slightly acidic) gives Garden Peas a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Tana River's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Tana River County is a challenging environment for Garden Peas (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Garden Peas 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/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. Tana River receives approximately 400 mm/year — well below Garden Peas's minimum of 800 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Garden Peas is the #104 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River County. Garden Peas's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 362,500/acre at KES 145/kg), but at Tana River's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Tana River soil | Garden Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.04 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 108 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 400 mm | 800–2,100 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 200 m | 1,500–2,600 m | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag