Nutrient Management Plan Writing Tools

Nutrient Management Planning Tools Handbook

What is a Nutrient Management Plan?

A nutrient management plan is a formal document that balances crop nutrient needs with nutrients that are applied in the form of commercial fertilizer, animal manure, or biosolids.

Text on image reads A nutrient management plan balances nutrient inputs with plant nutrient requirement; the image is a scale with animals (the nutrient inputs) on the left hand side and plants (plant nutrient requirements) on the right hand side.

A plan contains:

  • Soil test results
  • Manure and biosolids analyses (where applicable) 
  • Yield goals
  • Estimates of residual nitrogen to generate field-by-field recommendations 

Example plans:

  • Willow Farm (CSA with beef, hay & pasture and various crops - corn, flowers and vegetables)
  • Don Showfelder Farm (Broiler operation, grain farm, horse pasture)

What is Involved in the Plan Writing Process?

The plan writing process involves the following steps:

1. Data Collection

Step 1. Data Collection

Collecting and carefully organizing information (data collection) from the field site along with the producer interview is the first step in developing a nutrient management plan.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the data collection step of nutrient management plan development.

Data Collection Sheets (fillable pdfs)

Data Collection Calculation Worksheets (excel file)

Finding Tax Account ID Numbers 

Maryland Department of Agriculture's 4-Digit Watershed Codes 

  • Watershed Maps (PDF version)
  • Watershed Maps (Interactive map) - use your mouse to zoom into the farm's location, then click on the map to identify the 4-digit watershed code

Soil Information

Mapping

2. Soil Sampling and Testing

Step 2. Soil Sampling and Testing

Representative soil samples, which have been properly collected and analyzed, become the basis for nutrient recommendations.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the soil sampling and testing step of nutrient management plan development.

3. Manure (and Other Organic Source) Sampling and Testing

Step 3. Manure (and Other Organic Source) Sampling and Testing (if applicable)

Obtaining a representative organic sample is the basis for developing reliable recommendations for manures and other organic sources.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the manure sampling and testing step of nutrient management plan development.

4. Manure/Organic Quantity Estimation and Utilization

Step 4. Manure (and Other Organic Source) Quantity Estimation and Utilization

5. Tissue Sampling and Testing

Step 5. Tissue Sampling and Testing (if applicable)

Tissue analyses are the bases for nutrient recommendations for fruit nutrient management plans.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the tissue sampling and testing step of nutrient management plan development.

6. University of MD Phosphorus Management Tool (UM-PMT)

Step 6. Calculating the Phosphorus Management Tool (if fields have an FIV-P greater than or equal to 150)

The Phosphorus Management Tool (PMT) is a field-by-field tool designed to identify critical areas where there is a high phosphorus loss potential and a large source of phosphorus present in the soil. The UM-PMT replaces the PSI.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the UM-PMT step of nutrient management plan development.

7. Generating Recommendations

Step 7. Generating Recommendations

Nutrient recommendations based upon representative soil samples, yield goal information, and research are the core of a nutrient management plan.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the generating recommendations step of nutrient management plan development.

8. Compiling and Reviewing Your Nutrient Management Plan

Step 8. Compiling and Reviewing Your Nutrient Management Plan

It is important that a nutrient management plan be well-organized and contain all the necessary components as required by Maryland Nutrient Management Regulations. Using a checklist can help ensure that all necessary components are included in the plan.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the compiling and reviewing step of nutrient management plan development.

9. Relevant MDA Documents for Complete Plans

Step 9. Submitting Plan Components

Parts of a completed nutrient management plan must be submitted to the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA). In addition, operators must follow their nutrient management plan (or document reasons for not following it) and file an annual report on their implementation of the plan.

The following form will assist you with the submitting plan components step of nutrient management plan development: 

Documentation of a Current Nutrient Management Plan:

Effective January 2018, individuals applying for MACS cost-share programs will be required to provide the following form to verify that they possess a current nutrient management plan. 

10. Record Keeping

Step 10. Record Keeping 

Record keeping is good practice for agricultural operations. For nutrient management, crop yield records, by field, support yield goals used to develop nutrient recommendations. In addition, records of equipment calibration and organic applications confirm proper application rates and that nitrogen credits are assigned to the appropriate fields.

The following worksheets and information sheets will assist you with the record keeping step of nutrient management plan development.

The Agricultural Nutrient Management Program also has a "Field Management Records" pocket-sized notebook that can help make crop, pesticide, and nutrient management record keeping easier. Please call the Program's office at (301) 405-1318 for information on how to receive your free copy.

11. Following Up

Step 11. Following Up 

After delivery of the nutrient management plan, there are many things a nutrient management advisor can do to follow up with the producer including calibrating manure spreaders, conducting a Pre-Sidedress Soil Nitrate Test (PSNT) and/or a Corn Stalk Nitrate Test (CSNT), and estimating corn silage and corn grain yield.

The following information sheets will assist you with the following up step of nutrient management plan development.