Growing Dolichos in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Dolichos, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Dolichos prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Dolichos's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Dolichos, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 120/kg) and a typical 500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dolichos crop here can gross roughly KES 60,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | West Pokot soil | Dolichos needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 6 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Sowing & DAP Basal Fertilizer (NO CAN — nitrogen fixer)
Month 2
Weeding & Vine Support if needed
Month 3
Pod Fill & Harvesting
Short Rains
Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer (no CAN)
Month 2
Weeding & Pest Scouting
Month 3
Harvesting & Seed Drying
Dry Season
Month 1
Post-Harvest seed storage
Month 2
Land Resting (N benefit remains in soil)
Month 3
Seed Selection & preparation
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Dolichos (njahi) fixes its own nitrogen through rhizobia. Do NOT apply CAN — it suppresses nodulation and reduces yield. A starter dose of phosphorus at planting is enough.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
Njahi BlackMedium/Highland
KALRO · 90-120 days · 8-12 bags/acre
Black hyacinth bean (njahi); popular in Central Kenya; high protein; nitrogen-fixing soil improver.
DL 1002Dryland/Medium
KALRO · 90-110 days · 7-11 bags/acre
Improved dual-purpose lablab; grain and fodder; tolerant to drought and low fertility.
Eldoret BrownMedium
KALRO · 100-130 days · 8-13 bags/acre
Brown-seeded selection; vigorous; good for intercropping with maize.
ELDO-KT Black 1Medium/Highland 10-2000m
University of Eldoret · 135-150 days · 14-22 bags/acre
Black seeded; short cooking time; uniform maturity.
ELDO-KT CreamMedium/Highland 10-2000m
University of Eldoret · 120-135 days · 16-25 bags/acre
Cream seeded; early maturity; good flavor; short cooking time.
ELDO-KT Black 2Medium/Highland 10-2000m
University of Eldoret · 120-135 days · 16-29 bags/acre
Black seeded; medium maturity; robust growth.
Economics
Market priceKES 120/kg
Expected yield500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 60,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag