{
  "slug": "manure-nutrient-value",
  "title": "Manure Nutrient Value Calculator",
  "heading": "Manure Nutrient Value Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/manure-nutrient-value",
  "summary": "Fertilizer value of applied manure based on N-P-K content and prices.",
  "description": "Manure is a fertilizer source that farms often undervalue because the nutrient content isn't printed on a bag. This calculator takes manure analysis results (or typical book values by species) in lb of N, P2O5, and K2O per ton, applies a nitrogen availability factor since not all manure N is plant-available in year one, and prices the result against current commercial fertilizer prices to show what a load of manure is actually worth as a fertilizer replacement. This is the number to use when deciding whether hauling manure further to a needier field pencils out, or when negotiating price for manure being sold off a livestock operation.",
  "formula": "Value/ton = (N lb × availability % × N price) + (P2O5 lb × P price) + (K2O lb × K price).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=manure-nutrient-value",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "nLb",
      "label": "Total nitrogen",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 11,
      "unit": "lb/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "nAvailability",
      "label": "First-year N availability",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 50,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 10,
      "max": 100
    },
    {
      "id": "p2o5Lb",
      "label": "P2O5",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7,
      "unit": "lb/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "k2oLb",
      "label": "K2O",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 9,
      "unit": "lb/ton",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "nPrice",
      "label": "Nitrogen price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.6,
      "unit": "$/lb",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pPrice",
      "label": "P2O5 price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.65,
      "unit": "$/lb",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "kPrice",
      "label": "K2O price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.5,
      "unit": "$/lb",
      "min": 0.1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "tons",
      "label": "Tons applied",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "valuePerTon",
      "label": "Fertilizer value per ton",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "totalValue",
      "label": "Total value applied",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "nValue",
      "label": "Nitrogen value per ton",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pValue",
      "label": "Phosphate value per ton",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "kValue",
      "label": "Potash value per ton",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total nitrogen: 11 lb/ton",
      "First-year N availability: 50 %",
      "P2O5: 7 lb/ton",
      "K2O: 9 lb/ton",
      "Nitrogen price: 0.6 $/lb",
      "P2O5 price: 0.65 $/lb",
      "K2O price: 0.5 $/lb",
      "Tons applied: 500"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Fertilizer value per ton: $12.35",
      "Total value applied: $6,175",
      "Nitrogen value per ton: $3.30",
      "Phosphate value per ton: $4.55",
      "Potash value per ton: $4.50"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total nitrogen (lb/ton).",
      "Enter first-year n availability (%).",
      "Enter p2o5 (lb/ton).",
      "Enter k2o (lb/ton).",
      "Enter nitrogen price ($/lb).",
      "Enter p2o5 price ($/lb).",
      "Enter k2o price ($/lb).",
      "Enter tons applied.",
      "Read your fertilizer value per ton on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "nLb": 6.6,
        "nAvailability": 30,
        "p2o5Lb": 4.2,
        "k2oLb": 5.3999999999999995,
        "nPrice": 0.36,
        "pPrice": 0.39,
        "kPrice": 0.3,
        "tons": 300
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "nLb": 11,
        "nAvailability": 50,
        "p2o5Lb": 7,
        "k2oLb": 9,
        "nPrice": 0.6,
        "pPrice": 0.65,
        "kPrice": 0.5,
        "tons": 500
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "nLb": 17.6,
        "nAvailability": 80,
        "p2o5Lb": 11.200000000000001,
        "k2oLb": 14.4,
        "nPrice": 0.96,
        "pPrice": 1.04,
        "kPrice": 0.8,
        "tons": 800
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why isn't all the nitrogen in manure counted at full value?",
      "a": "A large share of manure nitrogen is organic and mineralizes slowly over 2-3 years rather than being immediately plant-available like urea. First-year availability runs roughly 35-50% for solid manure and can be higher, 50-70%, for liquid/slurry manure incorporated quickly, with the remainder crediting future crop years."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I get my manure tested instead of using book values?",
      "a": "Yes, always test if you're applying regularly — nutrient content in manure varies 2-3x depending on bedding type, storage method, and dilution, and book values are only a rough starting point. A $20-30 lab test easily pays for itself in more accurate fertilizer planning."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does this account for hauling and application cost?",
      "a": "No, this is gross nutrient value only. Subtract your actual hauling and spreading cost per ton, commonly $4-10/ton depending on distance and equipment, to get the net value of applying manure versus buying commercial fertilizer instead."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I value manure I'm selling versus applying myself?",
      "a": "Use the same nutrient value as your floor price, then negotiate based on who pays hauling. Buyers close to the source should expect to pay closer to full nutrient value since they save the seller a disposal cost, while distant buyers factor in trucking against that ceiling."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cover-crop-roi",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dairy-feed-cost-per-cwt",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/grazing-carrying-capacity"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Manure Nutrient Value Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/manure-nutrient-value)"
}