Growing Chickpeas in Uasin Gishu
Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile
Chickpeas can be grown in Uasin Gishu County, but the soil scores 46/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8 band Chickpeas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Chickpeas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Chickpeas, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 200/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Chickpeas crop here can gross roughly KES 100,000 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Uasin Gishu soil | Chickpeas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.39 | 5.5–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.56 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 227 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag