Growing Pigeon Peas in Tana River
Soil suitability analysis based on Tana River's nutrient profile
Tana River County is well suited to Pigeon Peas, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.4 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–8 band Pigeon Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.04 g/kg), phosphorus (8.5 mg/kg) and potassium (108 mg/kg) all meet Pigeon Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Pigeon Peas, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 75/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pigeon Peas crop here can gross roughly KES 37,500 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Tana River soil | Pigeon Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.04 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.5 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 108 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Pigeon peas fix atmospheric Nitrogen. No top dressing needed.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
ICEAP 00040Dryland
ICRISAT/KALRO · 150-180 days · 6-8 bags/acre
Early maturing; resistant to fusarium wilt.
KAT 60/8Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 120-150 days · 5-7 bags/acre
Short-duration; good for intercropping with maize.
Economics
Market priceKES 75/kg
Expected yield500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 37,500/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag