Growing Groundnuts in Tana River
Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile
Possible but challenging — Tana River is only marginally suited to Groundnuts. Tana River's soil (pH 6.4, slightly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 53/100. Match fertilizer to Tana River's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Groundnuts can be grown in Tana River County, but the soil scores 53/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts 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 Groundnuts, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #21 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tana River County. Groundnuts's full potential is about 500 kg/acre (~KES 45,000/acre at KES 90/kg), but at Tana River's 53/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 331 kg/acre (~KES 29,790/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 | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 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 | 500–1,400 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 200 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Tana River's nitrogen reads 1.04 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Tana River
Varieties suited to Tana River's 200 m altitude and 400 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag