Nutrient Balance & Applied vs Removed
Balances nitrogen
Compare what you apply against what the crop removes to get the balance, status and recovery — a large surplus wastes money and pollutes, a deficit mines the soil.
Field nutrient balance
Next: a surplus of 30 kg means you can trim inputs next season to cut cost and leaching.
A small planned surplus maintains soil fertility; persistent deficits draw down reserves, persistent large surpluses risk runoff.
Nutrient balance — key facts
- Balance
- applied − removed
- Applied
- fertiliser + manure
- Removed
- crop offtake at harvest
- Large surplus
- Wastes money, pollutes
- Deficit
- Mines the soil
- Recovery
- removed ÷ applied
- Aim for
- A small positive balance
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Put a number on what goes in versus what comes off
Every season nutrients flow into a field as fertiliser and manure and out again in the harvested crop — and the gap between the two decides whether you are wasting inputs or running the soil down. A field nutrient balance compares what you apply (fertiliser + manure) against what the crop removes; a large surplus wastes money and pollutes, a deficit mines the soil, and the recovery ratio shows efficiency. The goal is simple: aim for a small positive balance.
This tool reports the balance, a surplus-or-deficit status, the recovery percentage and the applied and removed totals, so you can tune fertiliser up or down with confidence. Use it alongside a soil test to explain rising or falling fertility. Pair it with the Crop Nutrient Removal and Nutrient Use Efficiency calculators to close the loop on efficient, sustainable nutrition.
Stop overspending
Trim a costly, polluting surplus.
Avoid mining soil
Spot a deficit before fertility falls.
Measure efficiency
Recovery ratio shows what's taken up.
Hit the sweet spot
Aim for a small positive balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nutrient balance calculator?+
It compares the nutrients you add to a field against what the crop takes away, and reports the balance, a surplus-or-deficit status and a recovery ratio. A field nutrient balance compares what you apply (fertiliser + manure) against what the crop removes — so you can see whether you are overspending, mining the soil, or close to right.
What does the balance figure mean?+
Balance is simply applied minus removed for a nutrient. A positive balance means you put on more than the crop took off (a surplus); a negative balance means the crop removed more than you applied (a deficit). The status flag turns that number into a clear surplus, deficit or balanced verdict.
Why is a large surplus a problem?+
A large surplus wastes money and pollutes — unused nutrients leach to water, run off, or volatilise, and you have paid for fertiliser the crop never used. Persistent surpluses build up in soil and the environment, so trimming them saves cash and protects water quality without hurting yield.
Why is a deficit also a problem?+
A deficit mines the soil: when the crop removes more than you replace, it draws down the soil's reserves year after year, gradually lowering fertility and future yields. A small, planned drawdown can be fine on a rich soil, but a persistent deficit eventually shows up as falling productivity.
What is the recovery ratio?+
The recovery ratio shows efficiency — it expresses how much of what you applied was taken up by the crop, as removed divided by applied. A higher recovery means less waste; a very low recovery signals over-application or poor uptake. It is a quick read on how well your inputs are converting into crop.
What balance should I aim for?+
Aim for a small positive balance — enough to maintain soil fertility and cover unavoidable losses, without the waste and pollution of a big surplus. The exact target depends on soil test levels, crop and goals, but a modest, slightly positive balance is generally the efficient, sustainable zone.
Do I include manure and residues?+
Yes — count all the nutrients you apply, including fertiliser, manure and other organic inputs, against everything the crop removes in grain, fodder or whatever leaves the field. Leaving manure out understates inputs and can push you into an unnecessary, costly extra fertiliser dose.
How is this different from a soil test?+
A soil test measures the stock of nutrients in the ground at a point in time; a nutrient balance tracks the flow in and out over a season. They complement each other — the balance explains why a soil test is rising or falling, and together they guide whether to push, hold or ease back on inputs.
Are the figures precise?+
They are solid planning figures. Real balances depend on accurate input amounts, crop removal rates and yields, and they ignore losses and soil supply, so treat the result as a clear directional guide — surplus, deficit or balanced — rather than an exact nutrient audit.