Growing French Beans in Tharaka Nithi

Soil suitability analysis based on Tharaka Nithi's nutrient profile

Tharaka Nithi County is a solid choice for French Beans, with a soil-match score of 69/100. At an average pH of 4.99 the soil is strongly acidic, below French Beans's preferred 5.8–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 1.23 g/kg, P 19.6 mg/kg, K 211 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tharaka Nithi County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Tharaka Nithi's 69/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,019 kg/acre (~KES 241,520/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.