At a minimum fill in the columns that are flagged with an asterisk (*). These columns are required to calculate your state's nutrient availability. Note that a required checkbox column should just be left unchecked if that item is not present or does not apply.
Columns flagged with a cross (†) are optional but may result in a more accurate estimate if entered. If you have the data for optional columns, it's a good idea to enter the data even though it may not be required.
Unflagged columns are not used by your state to estimate nutrient availability. You can fill in the unflagged columns if you want for completeness, but the values you enter in these columns will not affect the results.
Once you've filled in a table, click the Next button to proceed to the next table. At any time you can click the Back button to return to the previous table (note this is not the same as clicking your browser's "Back" button) or the Restart button to start over with the calculator. If available, you can click the Calculate button to calculate and display the results without proceeding to the next table. If you need more rows in the Field/Application table, click the Add Rows button after entering the number of additional rows you want to add (the default is 3).
When you're all done entering data and have the results you want, you may want to print a report (see the printing tips below). You can also click the Download Plan button to save your data as an MMP plan file on your local computer. This plan file can be opened by the current version of MMP.
Bedding Check this box if the manure contains bedding materials.
Manure Analysis Total N Enter the total N value from the lab analysis. With liquid and slurry manure, enter the value in pounds per 1000 gallons. With solid manure, enter the value in pounds per ton.
Tip: If your lab analysis reports nutrient concentration in parts per million (ppm), you'll need to convert each analysis value to pounds using one of these equations:
Liquid manure lbs/1000 gallons = ppm x 0.00834
Solid manure lbs/ton = ppm x 0.002
If your lab analysis reports nutrient concentration as a percent by weight (%), convert the analysis to pounds using one of these equations:
Liquid manure lbs/1000 gallons = % x 83.4
Solid manure lbs/ton = % x 20
Note that this assumes that the density of liquid manure is similar to that of water (about 8.3 pounds per gallon).
Manure Analysis NH4-N Enter the NH4-N or ammonium N value from the lab analysis.
Manure Analysis Total P2O5 Enter the total P2O5 value from the lab analysis.
Manure Analysis Total K2O Enter the total K2O value from the lab analysis.
Tip: With P and K, the manure analysis must be entered as P2O5 and K2O. If your lab analysis reports the concentration of elemental P and K, you'll need to convert the analysis using these equations:
P2O5 = 2.3 x P
K2O = 1.2 x K
% DM Enter the manure's percent dry matter from the lab analysis. Some labs may report this as percent solids. Other labs may report only percent moisture. If you know the manure's percent moisture, its percent dry matter is (100 - % moisture).
Manure Storage Select the type of storage where the manure was collected and stored.
Subfield Optionally, you can enter a subfield ID for each field if a field has been subdivided into subfields.
Predominant Soil Type Select the field's predominant soil type. The pick list contains all soils for the county you selected earlier.
Each soil description in the list is made up of four pieces of information, as in this example:
Beaucoup SIL (Bb 0-2%)
In this example, Beaucoup is the soil's component name, SIL is the soil's surface texture, Bb is the soil's map unit symbol, and 0-2% is the soil's slope range.
Tip: Click the Soil Info button to generate a report with information on all soils in the county.
% OM Enter the field's organic matter content from a soil test.
Irrigated w/ Water Check this box if the field is irrigated with water.
Drained Check this box if the field is artificially drained (tile or ditch drainage).
Manure Application Month Select the month that manure is applied. For July and August applications, indicate whether the application follows a harvested crop, such as a small grain, and targets the following year's crop (before planting), or whether the manure is applied to a standing crop, such as corn (after planting).
Manure Application Equipment Select the type of equipment used to apply the manure.
Manure Application Rate Enter the manure application rate in the indicated units.
Days To Incorp. If surface applied, enter the number of days before the manure will be incorporated. For example, if the manure will be incorporated the same day it is applied, enter 0; if the manure will be incorporated the day after it is applied, enter 1; etc. If surface-applied manure won't be incorporated, or if the manure will be injected or irrigated, leave this column blank even if it's flagged as a required column.
Targeted Crop Select the field's planned crop. This is assumed to be the crop that will utilize the manure's nutrients.
Previous Crop Select the field's previous crop.
Note: If a cover crop will be planted between the previous year's crop and the targeted crop, select the cover crop as the previous crop.