Growing Pineapple in Tharaka Nithi
Soil suitability analysis based on Tharaka Nithi's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Tharaka Nithi is moderately suited to Pineapple. Tharaka Nithi's soil (pH 4.99, strongly acidic) gives Pineapple a suitability score of 72/100. Apply agricultural lime before planting to unlock phosphorus and lift the score.
Tharaka Nithi County is a solid choice for Pineapple, with a soil-match score of 72/100. Local soils average pH 4.99 — strongly acidic and inside the 4.5–6.5 band Pineapple prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.23 g/kg), phosphorus (19.6 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Pineapple's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Pineapple, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pineapple is the #14 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Tharaka Nithi County. At current prices (about KES 35/kg) and a typical 25,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pineapple crop here can gross roughly KES 875,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Tharaka Nithi soil | Pineapple needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 4.99 | 4.5–6.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.23 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 19.6 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 1,000–1,500 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag