Growing Cashew Nuts in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

West Pokot County is a challenging environment for Cashew Nuts (soil-match score 10/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cashew Nuts prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Cashew Nuts's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Cashew Nuts, which favours sandy. At 1500 m, the county sits above Cashew Nuts's preferred altitude ceiling of 500 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. Cashew Nuts's full potential is about 900 kg/acre (~KES 247,500/acre at KES 275/kg), but at West Pokot's 10/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 113 kg/acre (~KES 31,075/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.