Growing Green Grams in Turkana
Soil suitability analysis based on Turkana's nutrient profile
Turkana County is a solid choice for Green Grams, with a soil-match score of 66/100. Local soils average pH 7.95 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–8 band Green Grams 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 Green Grams, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 300 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Green Grams crop here can gross roughly KES 36,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Turkana soil | Green Grams needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.95 | 5.5–8 | 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 |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Green grams fix their own nitrogen. No top dressing is needed.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
N26Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 60-65 days · 3-5 bags/acre
Early maturing; tolerant to drought; popular in eastern Kenya.
KS 20Medium
KALRO · 65-75 days · 4-6 bags/acre
High yielding; good seed quality; resistant to yellow mosaic virus.
Economics
Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield300 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 36,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
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