Growing Cowpeas in Turkana
Soil suitability analysis based on Turkana's nutrient profile
Yes, with the right inputs — Turkana is moderately suited to Cowpeas. Turkana's soil (pH 7.95, alkaline) gives Cowpeas a suitability score of 60/100. Match fertilizer to Turkana's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Turkana County is a solid choice for Cowpeas, with a soil-match score of 60/100. Local soils average pH 7.95 — alkaline and inside the 5–8 band Cowpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 0.41 g/kg, P 38.5 mg/kg, K 417 mg/kg against this crop's low/low/low demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Cowpeas, which favours sandy. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cowpeas is the #5 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Turkana County. Cowpeas's full potential is about 450 kg/acre (~KES 29,250/acre at KES 65/kg), but at Turkana's 60/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 338 kg/acre (~KES 21,970/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Turkana soil | Cowpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.95 | 5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.41 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 38.5 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 417 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 300 mm | 250–700 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 400 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag