Most soil and plant analysis labs will give you recommended application rates based on the soil test results. Your county Extension agent can also help you with this. Nutrient Supply Many of the nutrients needed to grow your crops are already present on your farm in the soil, in animal manures, or in crop residues. Knowing the amounts of nutrients already present in these sources is important so that you do not buy more nutrients than needed. Determine the Quantity of Nutrients Available on Your Farm Supply planning starts with an inventory of the nutrients produced on the farm.
Animal manure is an important source of nutrients.
The quantity of manure collected and stored, either dry or liquid should be determined. This information will allow you to balance your nutrient purchases with what is available on your farm for the realistic production level of the crops grown. Nutrient Analysis Animal manure and other organic products are not all the same as far as nutrient content is concerned. An analysis of these products tells you the nutrient content so that you can match this up with soil test recommendations and determine application rates. The lab results will help you determine how much of the nutrients in the manure will be available to your crops.