1. Poultry Litter FERTILIZER CALCULATOR
Leticia Sonon
MASTPAWG 2010
Richmond, VA
Source: Calculating the Fertilizer Value of Broiler Litter (UGA Circular No. C 933) David E. Kissel, Mark Risse, Leticia Sonon and Glen Harris
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2. Bases of calculations
Prevailing retail prices of commercial fertilizers containing N, P, and K.
Based on an average broiler litter composition: % N, 3.1% P2O5, and 2.8% K2O.
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3. STEP 1. Determine the cost per pound of available nutrients.
Cost per pound = retail price per ton divided by the pounds of nutrient per ton.
UREA Analysis : 920 lbs N/ ton
Cost : $600/ton
: $0.65/lb N
Muriate of Analysis : 1,200 lbs K2O/ton
Potash Cost : $960/ton
: $0.80/lb K2O
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4. Phosphorus Fertilizers
Nitrogen Fertilizers
Name
% N
lbs. N/ton
Ammonium Nitrate (34-0-0) 34
680
Ammonium Sulfate (21-0-0) 21
420
Urea (46-0-0) 46
920
UAN Solution (32-0-0) 32
640
Phosphorus Fertilizers
% P2O5
lbs. P2O5/ton
Triple Superphosphate (0-46-0)
Monoammonium Phosphate ( ) 52
1,040
Diammonium Phosphate ( )
Ammonium Polyphosphate ( )
Potash Fertilizers
% K2O
lbs. K2O /ton
Muriate of Potash (0-0-60) 60
1,200
Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50) 50
1,000
Sulfate of Potash Magnesia (0-0-20) 22
440
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5. STEP 2. Determine the equivalent N, P2O5 and K2O
STEP 2. Determine the equivalent N, P2O5 and K2O values per ton of litter.
Using the calculated price for N, P2O5 and K2O in step one, proceed to step two table. Find the equivalent fertilizer value per ton of litter that contains 3.1 percent N, 3.1 percent P2O5 and 2.8 percent K2O.
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6. Assumes P2O5 in PL is 90% available.
Nitrogen (N)
Phosphate (P2O5)
Potash (K2O)
$/lb. N
$/ton PL
$/lb. P2O5
$/lb. K2O
0.4
12.40
22.32
0.3
16.80
0.5
15.50
27.90
22.40
0.6
18.60
33.48
28.00
0.7
21.70
39.06
33.60
0.8
24.80
44.64
39.20
0.9
50.22
44.80
1.0
31.00
55.80
50.40
Assumes N is 50% available in poultry litter (PL) not incorporated. If incorporated into soil, multiply by 1.3.
Assumes P2O5 in PL is 90% available.
Assumes K2O in PL is 100% available.
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7. STEP 3. Add the total fertilizer value for N, P and K in dollars per ton of litter.
As an example, for N, P2O5 and K2O (valued at $0.60, $0.50 and $0.30 per pound, respectively), the litter value based only on the N, P and K values would be $ $ $16.80 = $63.30 per ton.
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8. Situation
 pastures under continuous litter application may have high soil test P and K levels
 applying the litter to this pasture may be wasteful if only N is needed
 P and K value = $44.70 per ton, more than enough value to purchase an amount of N fertilizer equal to the N contained in one ton of the litter (valued at $18.60)
 the poultry farmer could then sell the litter to other farmers who need all three nutrients for crop production, and use the money from the sale to purchase N fertilizer for the pasture.
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9. Online Calculator
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