Growing Groundnuts in Vihiga
Soil suitability analysis based on Vihiga's nutrient profile
Yes — Vihiga is well suited to Groundnuts. Vihiga's soil (pH 5.62, slightly acidic) gives Groundnuts a suitability score of 77/100. Match fertilizer to Vihiga's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Vihiga County is well suited to Groundnuts, scoring 77/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.62 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Groundnuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.02 g/kg), phosphorus (14.8 mg/kg) and potassium (164 mg/kg) all meet Groundnuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Groundnuts prefers sandy soils, while Vihiga is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Groundnuts is the #21 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Vihiga County. At current prices (about KES 90/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Groundnuts crop here can gross roughly KES 45,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Vihiga soil | Groundnuts needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.62 | 5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.02 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 14.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 164 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 500–1,400 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Vihiga's nitrogen reads 1.02 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Groundnuts is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Vihiga
Varieties suited to Vihiga's 1,700 m altitude and 1,800 mm annual rainfall — 1 of 2 groundnuts varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag