Growing Beans in Trans Nzoia

Soil suitability analysis based on Trans Nzoia's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Trans Nzoia is well suited to Beans. Trans Nzoia's soil (pH 5.93, slightly acidic) gives Beans a suitability score of 88/100. Match fertilizer to Trans Nzoia's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Trans Nzoia County is well suited to Beans, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.93 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below Beans's preferred 6–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. Nitrogen (1.68 g/kg), phosphorus (27.3 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #27 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Trans Nzoia County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.

88Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorTrans Nzoia soilBeans needsStatus
pH5.9367Adjust
Nitrogen1.68 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus27.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 100 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm500–1,600 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m0–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Trans Nzoia

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (DAP)
April
1st Weeding & Thinning
May
Flowering Stage & Pest Control

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
September
1st Weeding & Thinning
October
Flowering Stage

Dry Season· JanuaryMarch

January
Post-Harvest Storage
February
Land Resting
March
Seed Selection

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Beans fix their own Nitrogen. Do NOT apply CAN — it will reduce yield.
Bags per acre in Trans Nzoia
0

Trans Nzoia's nitrogen reads 1.68 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Seed varieties for Trans Nzoia

Varieties suited to Trans Nzoia's 1,900 m altitude and 1,200 mm annual rainfall — 5 of 7 beans varieties we list.

KAT B1Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 8-10 bags/acre
Yellow bean; highly tolerant to drought and heat.
ChelalangMedium/Highland
KALRO · 75-80 days · 12-15 bags/acre
High yield; resistant to root rot and angular leaf spot.
NyotaDryland/Medium
KALRO · 65-70 days · 10-13 bags/acre
Navy bean type; iron-rich; KEPHIS certified; popular in export markets.
KAT B9Medium/Highland
KALRO · 70-75 days · 12-14 bags/acre
Bush bean; resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot; good grain quality.
Kenya Mali (KAT SW-12)Medium
KALRO · 70-75 days · 11-13 bags/acre
Speckled sugar bean; high market value; widely traded in Nairobi market chains.

Economics

Market priceKES 130/kg
Expected yield 800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 104,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag