Growing Mango in West Pokot

Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile

Mango can be grown in West Pokot County, but the soil scores 51/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–8.5 band Mango prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Mango's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Mango, which favours sandy. At 1500 m, the county sits above Mango's preferred altitude ceiling of 1200 m, where frost risk and cold nights reduce the crop's productivity. Mango's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 80,000/acre at KES 10/kg), but at West Pokot's 51/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 5,100 kg/acre (~KES 51,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.