Growing French Beans in Vihiga

Soil suitability analysis based on Vihiga's nutrient profile

Vihiga County is a solid choice for French Beans, with a soil-match score of 71/100. At an average pH of 5.62 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below French Beans's preferred 5.8–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 1.02 g/kg, P 14.8 mg/kg, K 164 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #30 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Vihiga County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Vihiga's 71/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 3,106 kg/acre (~KES 248,480/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.