Growing Mango in Wajir

Soil suitability analysis based on Wajir's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Generally not ideal — Wajir is poorly suited to Mango. Wajir's soil (pH 8.4, alkaline) gives Mango a suitability score of 10/100. Match fertilizer to Wajir's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Wajir County is a challenging environment for Mango (soil-match score 10/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 8.4 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Mango prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.52 g/kg), phosphorus (39.3 mg/kg) and potassium (396 mg/kg) all meet Mango's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Mango, which favours sandy. Wajir receives approximately 200 mm/year — well below Mango's minimum of 500 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Mango is the #16 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Wajir County. Mango's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 80,000/acre at KES 10/kg), but at Wajir's 10/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 1,000 kg/acre (~KES 10,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Wajir's soil: Sisal, Aloe Vera, and Green Grams — each scores higher on the same soil.

10Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorWajir soilMango needsStatus
pH8.45.58.5OK
Nitrogen0.52 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus39.3 mg/kgmin 6 mg/kgOK
Potassium396 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall200 mm500–1,200 mmLow
Altitude250 m0–1,200 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Before flowering (once annually)
Instruction
Apply 2–3 months before expected flowering. Excess N delays fruiting.
Bags per acre in Wajir
0.250.3

Wajir's nitrogen (0.52 g/kg) already meets Mango's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Seed varieties for Wajir

Varieties suited to Wajir's 250 m altitude and 200 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 mango varieties we list.

Apple MangoCoastal/Dryland
KALRO/HCDA · 1000-1200 days · 3.6–5.4 tons/acre
Most popular domestic variety; sweet and juicy.
Tommy AtkinsCoastal/Dryland
KALRO/HCDA · 1000-1200 days · 4.5–7.2 tons/acre
Export quality; good shelf life; disease tolerant.

Economics

Market priceKES 10/kg
Expected yield in Wajir1,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 10,000/acre
Adjusted for Wajir's 10/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Mango can reach 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 80,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag