Liquid Fertilizer Dilution Calculator
Gallons per acre from product analysis and target rate.
About this calculator
Liquid fertilizers like UAN are sold by weight-percent analysis but applied by volume, so the calculator's first job is converting between the two: pounds of nutrient per gallon equal product density (lbs/gal) times analysis% ÷ 100 — for UAN-32 that's 11.06 lbs/gal × 32%, or roughly 3.5 lbs of actual N in every gallon. Dividing your target nutrient rate (lbs/acre) by that per-gallon figure gives the gallons of product needed per acre, and adding your chosen carrier water rate on top gives total spray solution per acre and the resulting concentration (product as a percentage of the total mix) — useful for checking a blend won't fall outside a nozzle's rated range or a product label's minimum dilution. From there it works out spray-tank logistics: how many acres one full tank covers, how much product and water go into each tank load, and — rounding up, since a partial tank still counts as a load — how many tank loads the whole field will take.
Total product volume and weight for the field, plus cost per acre and cost per pound of actual nutrient delivered, close out the economics side. The density figure is the input most likely to trip people up: it isn't the same as the analysis percentage, and using a generic "11" for every liquid product will subtly misstate your rate, since different UAN grades, APP (10-34-0), and ATS all have distinct densities. Always pull density from the product's actual label rather than a rule of thumb, especially at temperature extremes, since liquid fertilizer density shifts slightly with temperature.
Inputs
Results
Product rate (gal/acre)
33.91
Nutrient per gallon (lbs/gal)
3.54
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Target Nutrient (lbs/acre) and Product Analysis (%) to determine the gallons-per-acre rate.
- Set Product Density (lbs/gal) from the product label (UAN-32 = 11.06 lbs/gal).
- Enter Field Size (acres) and Carrier Water (gal/acre) if blending with water in the spray tank.
- Set Tank Capacity (gal) to calculate loads required, and Product Price ($/gal) for cost.
- Read Product Rate (gal/acre), Solution Concentration (%), Dilution Ratio, and Total Product Used (gal) for application planning.
How the result changes with Product analysis (%)
| Product analysis (%) | Product rate (gal/acre) | Nutrient per gallon (lbs/gal) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 67.81 | 1.77 |
| 24 | 45.21 | 2.65 |
| 48 | 22.6 | 5.31 |
| 80 | 13.56 | 8.85 |
What each input means
- Target nutrient (lbs/acre)
- Desired pounds of nutrient per acre (e.g., 120 lbs N).
- Product analysis (%)
- Nutrient percentage of the product (e.g., UAN-32 = 32% N).
- Product density (lbs/gal)
- Weight per gallon (UAN-28 = 10.66, UAN-32 = 11.06, 10-34-0 = 11.65).
- Field size (acres)
- Total acres to be treated.
- Carrier water (gal/acre)
- Gallons of water per acre in spray solution (0 for neat/undiluted).
- Tank capacity (gal)
- Total capacity of the spray/applicator tank.
- Product price ($/gal)
- Cost per gallon of liquid fertilizer.
What each result means
- Product rate (gal/acre)
- Gallons of liquid fertilizer product needed per acre.
- Nutrient per gallon (lbs/gal)
- Pounds of actual nutrient in each gallon of product.
- Total solution (gal/acre)
- Product plus carrier water per acre.
- Solution concentration (%)
- Product as a percentage of total spray solution.
- Dilution ratio (water:product)
- Parts of water per part of product.
- Acres per tank load
- Acres covered by one full tank.
- Product per tank (gal)
- Gallons of product to add per tank load.
- Water per tank (gal)
- Gallons of carrier water per tank load.
- Tank loads needed
- Number of full tank loads for the entire field.
- Total product (gal)
- Total gallons of product for the field.
- Cost per acre ($)
- Product cost per acre.
- Cost per lb nutrient ($)
- Cost per pound of actual nutrient delivered.
- Total field cost ($)
- Total product cost for the entire field.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersTarget nutrient (lbs/acre) = 120, Product analysis (%) = 32, Product density (lbs/gal) = 11.06, Field size (acres) = 80 = 7 input(s) provided
- Calculate Product rate33.91 = 33.91
- Calculate Nutrient per gallonNutrient per gallon = productDensity * (productAnalysis / 100)3.54 = 3.54
- Calculate Total solutionTotal solution = galProductPerAcre + carrierVolume48.91 = 48.91
- Calculate Solution concentrationSolution concentration = totalSolutionPerAcre > 069.3 = 69.3%
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to enter product density separately from the analysis percentage?
Analysis percentage tells you how much of the product's weight is nutrient, but you apply liquid fertilizer by volume, not weight, so the calculator needs density (lbs per gallon) to bridge the two — lbs of nutrient per gallon equals density times analysis% ÷ 100. Different liquid products at the same analysis can still have different densities (UAN grades, APP, and ATS all differ), so using a generic density instead of the actual product label value will quietly shift your gallons-per-acre rate.
How does the calculator decide how many tank loads I need?
It first finds acres per tank load by dividing tank capacity by total solution per acre (product plus carrier water), then divides your field size by that figure and rounds up — a field that needs 4.2 tank loads still requires 5 actual passes, since a partial tank still counts as one load.
What does the Solution Concentration percentage tell me?
It's the product's share of the total spray mix by volume — product gallons per acre divided by total solution (product plus carrier water) per acre, times 100. This is useful for checking your mix against a nozzle's rated flow range or a product label's minimum dilution requirement before you fill the tank.
If I set Carrier Water to 0, does that mean I'm applying the fertilizer undiluted?
Yes — a carrier volume of 0 tells the calculator you're applying the product neat, so total solution per acre equals the product rate alone, dilution ratio drops to 0, and concentration is reported as 100%. This is common for direct-injection or fertigation setups rather than boom-sprayed tank mixes.
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Herbicide Mix Calculator
Calculate spray tank mixing rates: product per tank, total product needed, surfactant volume, and number of tank loads for your field.
FertilizerFertilizer Blend Calculator
Custom blend proportions for target N-P-K analysis.
Precision IrrigationChemigation Calculator
Calculate fertigation and chemigation injection pump rates, product volumes, and costs for applying chemicals through irrigation systems.
Pest ControlInsecticide Dilution Calculator
Calculate the correct insecticide concentrate and water mix ratio for your sprayer. Get concentrate ounces, water gallons, and coverage area.
FertilizerManure Nutrient Value Calculator
N-P-K value from manure type and application rate.
More in Agriculture & Farming.